Change Your Image
striveonsolutions
Reviews
FBI: Liar's Poker (2020)
Hard to believe
I understand that a TV show usually asks for some suspension in belief, but outside the fact that the most wanted person in the world uses a hostage to get out, there's something else a miss.
I think the biggest thing that took me out of the show was how much happened in the span of 27min (the time remaining on the bomb when it's first discovered).
It's as if they completely ignored travel time (driving, using stairs and elevators, making phone calls to get intel etc.). By the time they narrowed the search to a 400-yard radius, there was 16min left on the clock, and they had 3 agents scoping that zone. Are you joking??
The dichotomy here is intense. First, you have the FBI looking super efficient by finding two people within a 400 yard radius in under 27min (which ultimately didn't matter). While simultaneously looking completely ridiculous by giving in to the cartel leader's ploy. That would be like letting Osama Bin Laden walk because he has one hostage. That would never happen.
Another Life (2019)
Is this the best humanity as to offer?
Aside from the brutal dialog, temperamental storylines, and glaring plot holes (mentioned frequently in other reviews). I cant get past the fact a crew with these personalities were sent on - what is referred to as - the most important mission in human history.
Compare these characters to the average astronaut we send to the space station for a basic mission. Didnt the writers think this through? Having emotional and relatable characters works in a movie like Alien when they are a bunch of average joes mining stuff. But this ship is supposed to be filled with humanities finest to, you know, protect civilization? Insane.
Star Trek: Voyager: Warhead (1999)
How is Janeway a Captain?
After watching Picard and Sisco in the captain's chairs, voyager is like watching a parallel universe.
Janeway's decision making is so inconsistent, it seems like she ponders to how the writers want the story to go. And keep in mind the writers of Voyager appear to write stories with the preface of "wouldn't it be cool if..." like a group of inexperienced adolescent writers making a home movie.
I often find myself asking "where is this story going? Whats this about?", compared to TNG and DS9 where I was excited about the next scene or what character was going to do what.
This is one of those episodes. "Wouldn't it be cool if a warhead could talk?" No. Not in this way at least.
Janeway being okay to continuing working on a weapon of mass destruction on board her ship is insane. Why doesn't the crew protest? How much unnecessary danger should Janeway subject her crew to before shes relieved of command? You have an active alien warhead on board, one who is confused and "distressed", doesn't this imply it could BLOW UP at anytime?
If anyone is looking for a show more satisfying and with greater substance than Voyager, check out Ronald D Moore's Battlestar Galactica. Voyager is a waste of time and brain cells - i won't be finishing the series.
Star Trek: Voyager: Demon (1998)
Low on fuel?
How can a starship running on Antimatter be low on energy? 0.5 grams is more energy than an atomic bomb lol
I only bring this up because low energy reserves seems to be a common way Voyager finds itself in storylines.
Star Trek: Voyager: Retrospect (1998)
Opportunity Horribly Missed
I found this episode to be a horrible example of how to treat those who come forward with accusations of rape/sexual assault. As much as I agree that we can not condemn someone based on accusations alone, I believe that the writers framed Seven in the same vain as someone who "made it up" or "didn't remember what she thought she remembered". The whole narrative was creeping dangerously close to gaslighting, and the episode added fuel to a fire of the worst parts of rape culture.
I couldn't help my heart drop for Seven near the end when she was told the evidence didn't support her memory and she was so visibly upset - perpetuating the common problem rape victims face, being afraid to come forward due to risk of feeling alone and dismissed. My biggest problem was the investigation left so many loose ends, such as not interviewing the other lab assistants. Also, there was no conclusion at the end of the episode about the validity of her memories. The audience was left without being told if her memory was true or not. This was a clear opportunity for writers to make a statement about supporting those who come forward and not following the typical path of "shes making it up shes the problem, shes crazy". So disappointed.
Star Trek: Voyager: Sacred Ground (1996)
Poorly Executed
I'm all for the science v. Religion stories, but this episode is so poorly written it was a struggle to get through. The main problem here is that characters of Janeway and Chakotay have been well established as the scientist and the spiritual; however, when the episode hits its peak, and Janeway has to make a leap of faith to save Kes, Chakotay is the one who says "I don't understand this?"
Haha what?! The only guy on board who practices centuries old vision quests and relies on an animal guide he speaks to is the one who has a problem with all this? Not to mention the ending, when Janeway is provided a perfectly sound scientific explanation for what happened and she acts all humbled by the power of faith? What??? I'm not throwing shade at the idea of someone being humbled from having their beliefs challenged, but she's a captain of a starship and a well established scientist! Countless races have tried to fool her and her crew and they figure it out, yet this one time she's doubting her view on what REALLY happened? Trek episodes are pretty consistent when it comes to investigating strange and seemingly inexplicable phenomena, and out of all the races, spacial anomalies, time traveling etc., this is the one that has her think that "spirits" saved Kes? Wtf? Voyager has to be one of the most brutal trek series, and undoubtedly the least consistent.
Star Trek: Voyager: False Profits (1996)
Janeway is frustrating and inconsistent
Janeway's line: "since the federation was involved in the negotiations that led to the Ferengi owning the rights to the wormhole, the federation is already involved." Ummm what? That is Janeway's way of spinning it? To justify her getting involved? And Tuvok says that's a "very logical" way of looking at it? This is preposterous.
So, by that logic, the Federation is responsible for all the actions/choices of any race that participates in a negotiation for an indefinite amount of time after said negotiation? So much for the Prime Directive!
And all it takes is two Ferengi to distract Janeway from focusing on getting her crew home through a wormhole? Its incredible that Chakotay didn't relieve Janeway of command at any point of this series. Absolute incompetence.
Star Trek: Voyager: The Swarm (1996)
Two B Plots
It was like the writers had trouble deciding what this episode was to be about. Starts out with an alien attack, but then shifts between two stories that could have had their own episodes. This episode is the embodiment of what is wrong with Voyager, an ongoing identity crisis with commitment issues.
Also, what's with Janeway wanting to get through the region of space as fast as possible, yet stopping off to investigate a damage freighter? Its like a child distracted by a shiny penny. Then she drags her feet with the swarm catching up and doesn't go to warp despite asking to go to warp? This character is so inconsistent, the series is becoming hard to watch.
Robert Picardo is the redeeming quality of this series, always a fantastic performance.
Bigfoot Family (2020)
Finally some truth about the terrible Oil and Gas Industry
Hopefully Albertans watched this and had some serious self reflection afterward. One wonders if Alberta's "war room" (cringe) is bombing this review section with 1-star ratings. Funny how people get bent out of shape when a kids movie talks about the value of protecting the environment. What a bunch of snowflakes.
Star Trek: Picard (2020)
Harvey Dent was Right....
If you are a writer, I think its important to approach a new Star Trek series with an understanding of what made the show a decades long success. It created a sense of adventure, inspired us to be better than we are, and gave us hope that a bright and peaceful future was possible.
This was well established in ST:TNG, where the Gene Roddenberry's vision of the future was fully realized. A powerful captain and electic crew that was galvanized by morality, passion, diversity, and common values. Clever plot devices, characters both strong and flawed playing off each other, and bold stories for the time it was in still resonate today. It was truly a hero for many of us and still is.
ST:TNG was everything that "Star Trek Picard" is not. The flaws are easily seen in the first episode, where they simultaneously ignore (or dismiss) an established universe while tearing apart the moral foundation of the Federation. No pilot episode should have familiar fans scratching their heads during all of the world building.
It was immediately confusing to me that the Romulan Star Empire did not have the resources to evacuate Romulus by themselves. It was well established over TNG and DS9 that the Romulans were the equal to the Federation. Many head scratches followed when the Federation was portrayed as a xenophobic and militant organization against Romulans and complicit with the destruction of their homeworld, the Federation is now an organisation not interested in saving other life. It has also become an organisation that has built a labour force out of androids, an idea that was effectively axed in the classic TNG episode "measure of a man".
Picard himself is not the man I remember either. He was once a role model, a man who stood on principle, breaking the rules to do what is right, a skilled diplomat that taught us violence is not an answer, and a man who did what he could to stand for what he believed in. Now, we have a man who gave up, a man who, despite having saved the galaxy numerous times over a 40 year career, is now forgotten by history or downright ridiculed. It is mindboggling to me that such a well established and iconic character who embodied some of the best qualities to strive for is now treated as an annoying old man that should just "mind is own business and stay out of the way". (Also, hearing an admiral use the F word after his impassioned speech was quite cringy).
I could go on about this show, but to summarize, it is quite obvious to me that Alex Kurtzman has either never watched Star Trek before, doesnt care about it, or is too afraid to create a show filled with hope. Regardless he now relies on cheap and nonsensical plot devices with flashy SFX and cliche angsty teen drama. Rather than being the bright and hopeful future that was TNG, we now have an embodiment of xenophobia and Trump's America that is now referred to as The Federation.
The hero has now lived long enough to become the villain.