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Star Trek: Discovery: The Sound of Thunder (2019)
Better than Most of its Kind
Pike and Saru reach new levels of kick-a**-ary. Getting that out right now. In all of Star trek from Encounter at Farpoint onward we never really saw Pike or learned much about him. Anson Mount dwarfs anything Bruce Greenwood did with the character in the Abrams movies and he does so with a single line. When the Ba'ul ask if Pike is really willing to risk the lives of his people for a single Kelpian Pike flat out says "This Kelpian IS my people. And I will use every means in my power to defend him." Anson Mount as Pike has an uncanny ability to be respectful and restrained even as he is saying in no uncertain terms "You screwed up and now you need to shut up." Something I really don't think we've seen in many Star Trek leads...with the possible exception of Captain Picard.
Saru keeps himself as restrained as he possibly can given the circumstances and the conflict he feels in himself while he's returning home, but not for any reason his people can understand. The uncertainty, the power, conviction and most of all the anger at the lies his people swallow are all there. The most cliché and simplistic of his realities, the one that is stated and usually would be the main focus of the actor or even the episode is how to unravel a lie that is the foundation of your peoples culture. And that is blessedly minimal here. Also this is the second time Saru's vision (Kelpian vision) is mentioned and I'm glad they didn't wait until it became a game-changer to mention he even had it.
Star Trek: Discovery: If Memory Serves (2019)
Masterful strokes
This episode is Amazing. It establishes once and for all that Pike's trip to Talos has already happened, in this continuity as well as in TOS. The opening shots taken directly from The Cage fill in any gaps but leave one important revelation unsaid, so it can be explained in dialogue in the episode itself. But the best part, the subplot is just as stellar and just as masterfully done.
I will say Tyler does not work to overcome his crewmembers *suspicions* of him because of his history as Voq. That was misleading and almost stopped me from watching the episode. What happened is he was trying to help assuage his crewmembers *Feelings about him* because of what happened when he was Voq. I mean he gets into a bar-fight with a man Voq killed. He himself is not under suspicion by anyone because of Voq's actions. Not anymore anyway. They just have trouble dealing with him/each other.
And going back to TOS continuity. Pike was in a wheelchair in The Menagerie but that occurred 12 years AFTER the episode the Cage where he first came to Talos with Spock as his first Officer. And Saru gets respectfully sassy with Pike, something I am pretty sure only he could pull off, and that was just adorable.
The Pretender: Spin Doctor (2000)
A beautiful episode that's better alone
This is an amazing heartfelt episode. A man Jarrod once new, who helped him, trusted him completely, is dead. More than that he was supposedly a junkie sex-addict. The truth fo the matter is he was investigating and could not tolerate the corruption of Washington D. C. Something Jarrod knows but because of his guise, because he is supposedly just investigating just another murder/death in the bureau, he cannot let on any personal knowledge or conviction about the guy. Now the guy is dead and the woman he was with shares his idealism and the truth of the upstanding man of conviction he really was. Not troubled and certainly not suicidal. And this is a man Jarrod has idolized since he first escaped the Centre, though he never got the chance to meet the man again.
The story is continued The Profiler. It's a two part crossover. Where its revealed that Todd Baxter isn't actually dead, he faked his death and lied to everyone about it. Not only that he is cold and callous, framing Jarrod to take the fall for his murders. That's right, this guy, whose murder was made to look like a suicide after a night of drugs and depression by a couple of corrupt officials, 'cleaned up Washington D. C.' by committing murders, by killing those who poisoned his city. And not only almost got away with murder, but Jarrod almost went down framed for his crimes.
Thankfully all that happened in the other series and this episode ends on a note of justice and hope, if not victory.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Hippocratic Oath (1995)
Makes more sense when you ask different questions
Among Star Trek fans this episode serves to empathize the difference between Doctor Bashir and O'Brien's approaches. Frequently the only question stemming from it is whether O'Brien was justified in doing what he did at the end.
Having learned a thing or two about TNG O'Brien since first watching the episode I know his straight-forward 'he's the enemy' perspective actually is true to the character. And personally I love every moment Julian learns another way in which the Jem'Hadar leader is different and this is something he wholeheartedly believes in and could follow. What makes everything work in the end, even after O'Brien destroys his research forcing his escape is the moment he tells Bashir why he did it. It wasn't because he wanted the Jem'Hadar to die or because he was a solider. It was because it was the only way he knew to save Julian's life. He flat out says that "Whatever else you may think of me or what I did; I hope you understand that."
Which clears the air and makes forgetting this 'overstep' not only possible but the most natural thing in the world.
I was always with Bashir and O'Brien's stance always seemed unnatural to me. If his attitude here throws you for as much fo a loop, watch the season 4 TNG episode 'The Wounded'. O'Brien is a solider who has seen war and sees things with the simplicity of a solider. Adding all this together and the entire episode is superbly crafted and deeply awesome.
Andromeda (2000)
Earth hasn't been gone for long
One of the big criticisms of this show is how has so much of Earth's cultural references, and history survived if it wasn't the founding world of the Commonwealth and is nothing but an occupied territory. The answer is that while not a *founding* world of the Commonwealth it was a member world for centuries. It's cultural history and identity would have been preserved and shared for as long as the Commonwealth existed. It has only become the unimportant wasteland described in the current day since the Long Night...in the 300 years Dylan Hunt was asleep and the Commonwealth had fallen. Awareness of Earth cultural and human nature would've been as prevalent among the commonwealth and the wider worlds as awareness of Nietzschean (forgive the spelling) Physiology and philosophy.
The main writer of the show was fired near the beginning of season 3. Actually he quit because they wanted simpler plots with more focus on Captain Hunt. Which unfortunately happened. I waded through the cement of latter season 3 and when Tyr left for me that was basically the end of the show. Each season seems to have exactly 3 glorious superbly crafted episodes, 4 or 5 that are pretty good and the rest are just okay. It's not as bad as people say. But it died long before it ended.
The Pretender: Parole (1998)
"How they discovered something worth knowing"
Jarrod has a journey of discover in this episode. That is he discovers and learns one important, surprising and touching thing after another, and not along the same path. Jarrod's genuine surprise at the seediness and exoticness of the criminal or even blue-collar world is a nod to his innocence as well as his inexperience. He learns how easily people can be taken advantage of and fall into the trap of 'making the most of life', and most importantly, by listening in on Sydney's conversation with his son, learns how Sydney TRULY feels about him. Sydney has kept his feelings inside as best he could for the last 2 years. His parental feelings of Jarrod that is. He was always his protector, friend and guilt-ridden over the part he played in keeping Jarrod locked up. Sydney previously flat out lied to Jarrod, denying any parental feelings. And now he learns the truth.
Sydney was always the closest thing to a father Jarrod ever knew and for the first time Jarrod learns that Sydney felt and feels the same way. Since no one at the centre is around and it's not a conflict of interest, but a heartfelt declaration trying to convince Nicholas that the man who raised him is every bit his father as if they'd shared the same DNA, it's the first truly open conversation Sydney has with well...really anyone except Jarrod.
The Pretender: Road Trip (1999)
Incredible camaraderie exceptional acting
Speaking of the Wizard of Oz plotline it was a beautiful romp with all three of the main characters from the center perfectly happy to be followign Jarrod's clues and jumping through his hoops. Despite her complaining Ms Parker seems to truat that whatever they will find at the end of this yellow brick road will be worth the mystery. And Sidney seems more than a little amused as he goes running around like rats in a maze. Like literally he calls it that and it doesn't bother him at all. Maybe he feels that he owes Jarrod this after keeping so many things secret for so many years. The 3 of them are the 3 musketeers and it's beautiful.
I didn't know the actress to play Zoe from anything but I imagine she was a major name as a female actress at the time as well as a bombshell. Also the one time Jarrod assumes something other than the best about someone he is 100% wrong and you can see real regret in his eyes. He's always really good at reading emotional cues and micro-expressions but the one time he makes a conclusion based solely on the facts and the evidence- rather than the person - right in front of his face he is seriously almost disastrously wrong. But Zoe and Jarrod are each-other first honest and deeply committed relationship. Again: Stellar!
The Pretender: The Inner Sense: Part 2 (2000)
Creating New threads while bringing NO closure
There are so many people and secrets in this episode that were never even hinted at in the episodes leading up to it. In fact the one thing that is consistent with previous episodes is Ms. Parkers intense and inexplicable hatred and mistrust of Jarrod. The heart of the story, other than Ms Parker and Jarrod both searching for the truth was Sydney's relationship with Jarrod. This was especially true in Road Trip and Junk earlier in the season. But Sydney and Broots barely say anything to Jarrod the entire episode and the last scene the two of them have is so quote "classic" it's cliché. Catherine Parker having that extra-normal sixth sense and Sydney already knowing she faked her death were never even hinted at the entire series and yet were the biggest parts of the episode. Well besides having 2 people who can barely stand each other sharing a sibling in common that we had never heard about. Which would be pretty powerful if done believably. But this was anything but a natural unfolding of events. Jarrod never says goodbye to Sidney and in fact Sydney had been fading further and further away from him for at least 6 episodes. But there was no mystery hinted at, no cause or event just a lack of anything happening. The plot line which was the heart of the show was minimized to allow more time for various Parkers to become enigmatic characters with unclear motivations. A mystery the 3 main characters at the center spent thier time trying to solve...rather than finding Jarrod. A series finale should wrap up the series, not things from the season and should not try to create further mystery. When there will not be time to address it. Ms. Parker's search for answers to her families mysteries - a recurring theme since near the end of season one - ultimately went nowhere with very few answers ever found.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Orientation: Part 1 (2017)
Mack's 'reactions' are distractingly painful
Don't get me wrong, most of the episode is actually pretty cool, especially the scenes with Deke and May but there is something distractingly wrong going on here.
When Mack knocks Virgil unconscious he sarcastically apologizes that he 'saw a dirty-looking dude, standing over you with a creepy looking weapon, I reacted'. If Virgil had a weapon, in wasn't aimed at Coulson. Virgil was dirty but you could tell in 2/10's of a second that he was friendly. And obviously if he had been in any danger Coulson could have taken the guy out no problem so why does Mack say the guy was 'standing over him' at all? These are assumptions, not reactions. You tend to react to things that are actually in front of your face, things that are actually there no matter how you feel about them. Mack doesn't' react, he doesn't' take the time to read a situation, or people. He just goes with whatever he thinks is going on, and follows his own assumptions, how HE feels about people.
Coulson is his normal, patient, dry-witted humor self. Yo-Yo and Simmons play off each-other beautifully. But seriously you could have called this episode 'harbinger' and been closer to the point. As in a Harbinger of bad things to come rather than people getting oriented to thier knew surroundings. Mack's erroneous, sanctimonious attitude will not only put distance between himself and those members of the team he is closest too, it drowns out what virtues, heart and even internal conflict the other characters bring to the table/show. His attitude of 'we won't become like them; we won't lose our humanity' with no sympathy or understanding of the fact that having as much humanity as these people have after living like this for so long is impressive. The only character who professes their Christian faith, other than Yo-Yo, not only doesn't live up to it has judgment on the quickest speed-dial. It's...disturbing actually.
This episode was the beginning of the End.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
I don't understand how blind people are
The only convoluted parts of this movie are Lex Luthor's plan and why the world suddenly hates Superman. As far as Why Bruce is so relentlessly pursuing Superman and why 'Save Martha' actually pulls him back, they could not have set it up more clearly. And I realize a lot of Batman fans were disgusted/surprised at this version of Batman but they do explain his character perfectly: this is world weary, Robinless Joker beaten Batman who has almost given up on hope for the world. He spells out his motivations to Alfred "He has the power to make anything happen and if we believe there is even a 1% chance that he is our enemy He sees this alien as another freak in a costume. He even tells Superman while he's punching his face repeatedly "You were never a God, you were never even a man." Batman does not spare Superman because thier mother's share the same name. Batman didn't even know 'Martha' was Supes mother's name at first. But Superman asking Batman to save someone else was enough to make him pause and consider that this evil alien cares about people, cares about someone more than his own life. And then Lois comes in and tells him "It's his mother's name." And he realizes Superman has a human family, has a life, IS a good man I almost murdered. He finally realizes that "How many good guys are left, how many stayed that way" is a question he should have been asking about himself all along. It's a line straight out of Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Setting up both his mission and his attitude for the next movie.
This is not "Batman" anymore. This is not Superman *yet*. I'm wondering why it's so hard for people to stop, look at the film and realize this. Superman is a new born superhero. People call it unrealistic or something that neither hero reacts how they would in thier prime. Neither hero IS in thier prime. Supposedly Batman hates Superman for clear obvious reasons but that Superman has no reason to hate Batman? Clark Kent has a pretty clear reason for hating or at least mistrusting a vigilante who tramples on the law and civil liberties. People see this movie fail thier own expectations and in so doing, completely fail to see this movie in the context of this universe. Where honestly their expectations do not and should not apply.
Superman & Lois: A Brief Reminiscence In-Between Cataclysmic Events (2021)
AWESOME alone. Confusing to some
This episode is awesome, spectacular and sets this world apart from any others in a lot of cool ways. Most of which come out in Lois' interview with the man of Steel. Usually Superman is assumed to have landed on Earth only a few months before he showed himself to the world. In this universe Superman admitted right off that he came to Earth when he was young and grew up here.. Usually Lois swoons over Superman and ignores Clark, to varying degrees until she accepts Superman as a friend and Clark as a partner. It's refreshing to see Lois choose Clark over Superman from the get-go. But this episode does raise one huge question that actually has bothered people -purists- the entire show
In Dean Cain's Lois and Clark and in Smallville it is established that Superman's physiology is incompatible with an earth woman's for having kids. They can have sex but they cannot procreate. What we think of as Kryptonian physiology prevents it. Even in the rest of the arrow verse. In Supergirl, Lois was able to get pregnant because they were on Argo at the time of conception. No yellow sun meant Clark was fully human. But that is not mentioned here. In fact Supergirl and Argo are not mentioned at all. It's actually a valid confusion on the part of so many fans how Clark can have kids being an alien and all that. But it's not an assumption just because he's an alien. Normally Superman specifically *can't have kids. But in this continuity, it's no problem. They have 2 biological sons. The rules and expectations literally don't apply. The plus side is once we realize they aren't supposed to. That some assumptions the rules that have been established for us over so long aren't supposed to fit here, we can stop shredding the series for not explaining things or for not being consistent and just enjoy the show for what it is. And this episode does a Brilliant job of setting the series apart.
Also I freaking Love Clark's sincerity and Openness talking to Tal-Rho, in the hospital. As Clark is pleading with him not to hurt his kids and Tal says 'how little you understand me' Tal is actually right. But misguided Clarks statement was, it was heartfelt and a desperate cry of a father. Which of course makes me laugh at the irony that Clark's statement "Whatever it is you want, threatening MY family is not how you'll get it." As later that is exactly how Tal gets what he came for. "I'll do whatever you ask, just leave my family alone." And he leaves with Tal, knowing he'll probably be turned against the people of Earth. Btu to keep his family safe, and possibly buy more time for John Henry and General Lane to collaborate, he surenders.
Arrow: Elseworlds, Part 2 (2018)
Fun call backs with exceptional grounding
Okay when I saw this episode I was at least a year behind the times in Arrow. I had no clue what had been going on with Oliver recently. But I was watching Flash, and loving it. I have to say this episode was far more than a harbinger for Crisis. There has always been a draw back or an impediment to Barry and Oliver's relationship, rather something Oliver just never quite seemed to grasp before: Barry's attitude is a rejection of his circumstances, a refusal to live in darkness, not an absence of difficult circumstances or things to take seriously. Going all the way back to when Barry first showed up in Starling City, Oliver always dismissed Barry as someone who could afford to be all happy and gay because he never had anything that could bring him down. And while Oliver had walked in Barry's physical shoes in the Flash portion of the crossover, that probably only reinforced his belief that Barry's life is a sappy, emotional and smooth ride compared to his own. Now, walking a bit in Barry's Mental shoes, seeing Reverse Flash shred Flash for 'being so weak you couldn't stop me from killing your mom' Oliver FINALLY gets that Barry could have been dragged down, easily and simply didn't let himself be dragged down into this darkness. He'd met Thawne briefly, fought against him at the end of Flash season 1 but never really understood who Thawne was to Barry. He'd heard, once that Barry was stuck in some personal issues, but naturally he'd had his own. And to hear Oliver actually validate him, rather than simply support him was probably the height of glory for Barry. The big surprise occurred when Oliver, Kara and our Barry face Mar Novu. The Green Arrow (actually Barry) yells at the Monitor "by giving a nutbar an all-powerful, reality rewriting book!' and I could SWEAR that was Roy Harper speaking. Someone we hadn't seen since near the end of season 3 of Arrow. Someone who was at Oliver's side for 2 years and had donned the hood. Plus there was a second moment of Barry being the all-knowing mentor in the relationship. Which is always awesome.
Smallville: Cure (2007)
Vandal Savage aka Jeremiah Danvers
After watching Legends of Tomorrow I learned that Curtis Knox was a name assumed by immortal madman Vandal Savage, and is one of his more popular aliases. I assume that's who Dean Cain is here: the Smallville version of that minor DC villain. But what's kind of cool is the connection to a future series. In Supergirl Dean Cain stars as Kara Danvers/Kara Zor-el's adopted father Jeremiah, a recurring character. As well as far more obviously starring in Lois and Clark new adventures of Superman in the 90's. And apparently it's a continuing trend. Teri Hatcher also stars in a few episodes of Supergirl and one episode of Smallville. But while Dean Cain's character is far less likable here, compared to the others he plays in Superman productions, he shines MORE as an actor. Bringing a humanity and an emotionalism to someone who until the very end is a single-minded mad scientist type of character. That it's hard to imagine he feels anything except the need to never be alone again.
The Flash: The Race of His Life (2016)
The seeds of more than just flashpoint
Zoom and Savitar both have a tendency of saying things they mean literally, giving hints to the audience/team Flash knowing they will be taken a different way. It's a testament to the writers that IF you are paying attention you can see what these same statements really mean in the long-term. But also When Barry came out of the speed-force a couple episodes ago Tom Cavanagh did his absolute best acting without saying a word. At Barry's house the expression, the emotion, the nervousness and vulnerability on Well's face rang of HR Wells. A man that hadn't even been conceived of yet. And if there is one thing season 1 Wells, the imposter who actually did care about the team no matter what else he was, and Earth-2 have in common it's that on the rare occasion Joe West and Harrison Wells are on the same page, you would do well to listen. Before the team figured out that Harrison Wells was the man in the yellow suit one of a VERY few things the pair agreed on was that if Barry faced RF in such an emotional state he wouldn't stand a chance. Here Harry and Joe are a united front on that same point.
Also, the man in the Iron Mask does not fade of into the sunset. He is always on call throughout season 3 and 4. John Wesley Shipp's character of Henry Allen dies in the first few seconds of this episode. Enter the actual Earth-3 speedster Jay Garrick. Who will proudly stand guard for as long as team Flash needs him. And of course Barry saves his mom...which finally teaches him the consequences and the dangers of 'fixing' the timeline.
Superman & Lois: Fail Safe (2021)
Knowing Supergirl season 1 makes this even Better
There is something in this episode that I didn't see for YEARS. And now that I do of course it drowns everything else out for me. Knowledge of the first 2 seasons of Supergirl usually helps deepen the appreciation for this show. And having something so closely-related to compare it to helps you notice things you otherwise would miss or dis-miss. This episode most especially. I have seen this episode over a dozen times and always a little annoyed that Clark didn't notice something was going on with Tal when he was in the cell. Tal started rubbing his head, looking increasingly tired, as a result of having 'voices in his head', but Clark didn't' seem to notice anything out of the ordinary. Surely Clark wasn't so preoccupied to miss what was right in front of his face. Mentally and out of pure boredom I started comparing Tal Rho's cell to General Astra's in season one of Supergirl, under Glenn Moshower's General Lane and a cathedral size bell went off in my head: Clark noticed his distress it but attributed it to the Green Kryptonite. I always assumed it was the rather intense 'training' he'd learned from Zeta that let Tal sit there without caring much for getting sick. I mean that stuff would make either of them sick and no matter how much of a disaffected soldier Zeta had trained Tal-Rho to be, he couldn't cure him of his bodies reaction to radioactive pieces of their home-world. So when Clark sees Tal shaking and his nerves getting frayed, he's not surprised at all. But neither has he any reason to think anything is going on that wouldn't be explained by sitting in a cell surrounded by a Kryptonians only poison. Rather is a lot of build-up not none of it is rushed, forced or tedious. Nothing feels boring and no time feels wasted. It really is a well- paced episode with a slow build up to whatever is coming next. All told this is a strong 'pause before the final bout' kind of episode.
As much so if not more so than "A Brief Reminisce before Cataclysmic Events" a couple episodes ago. An episode whose actual title references how much of a calm before the storm it is.
The Flash: Armageddon, Part 1 (2021)
It's not an 'Error' It's a hint
I'm starting to think people are idiots.
The history of the Royal Flush gang doesn't line up with season one, because it's not supposed to. It's a hint or a fore-shadowing that the timeline is different. And it is a hint that things are screwed up more than would seem at first blush. But also a hint about more than the fact that Joe is dead and the Reverse-Flashpoint is going on. In the first episode after the Armageddon arc Bart and XS go back in time and change the history of the Royal Flush gang so that they showed up when Barry was still in his coma. In this episode people are already living in that altered timeline. Also ever since Crisis on Infinite Earths they are living in a different timeline than the first 5 seasons anyway. Earth Prime is a post Crisis timeline with old world and new world differences. Season by season continuity is 'insufferably inconsistent'...because the timeline has undergone two major overhauls and been mildly changed twice. Ray Palmer shows up mostly to show that Brandon Routh didn't completely fall off the Arrow-verse map when he left the Legends. Which is nice to know.
When Sarah and Ray left Arrow during season 4, it was easy to think they were no longer part of the show. Then in season 5 we learn "oh they've been having thier own adventures." Ray was here to prove that didn't happen. The inter-connectivity of these episodes, that is the connection and tying things together in a way that makes sense is actually pretty strong. Despite the Arrow verse being mostly shut down. It's nice to know leaving the show isn't leaving the franchise. And for never having been a member of Team Flash, Ray has always been one of Barry's closest friends and allies. Ultimately this entire arc proves one thing: that the Arrow-verse shrank...but is not gone. And some people display their ignorance when shredding the Flash for it's 'simplicity'.
Superman & Lois: Anti-Hero (2022)
Awesomeness with one splinter
This episode is chock mostly full of awesome things. Beautiful moments like hearing so much actual Kryptonian. I think it sounds a lot like Hebrew. Shuster and Sigel were both Jewish so it makes sense. Not that I'm a fan of it but seeing Anderson in this state makes a lot of sense. He sees things so perfectly clearly and is so completely sure of what he knows. Thankfully he learns the truth in a later episode. And just how wrong he was. Then again, Superman is harboring the man who killed his men and has been keeping things from him forever. The scenes at Tal's Fortress are the highlight of the episode. Especially that brief little smile on Bizzaro's face. The only real drawback is the brief scenes with Johnathan being basically punished for being honorable. And feeling so completely stuck. He's alone and scared that he won't be able to win his family back...and he literally did nothing wrong. I'm not saying those are weak scenes just, kind of sad.
The splinter that is digging into my head are the coordinates. 76.2 North Longitude 100.4 West Latitude. Generally you indicate north or west in negative numbers, rather than saying north or west. But it's still pretty cool to see, and those coordinates, once input correctly do get you pretty close to where they supposedly are.
The Flash: Success Is Assured (2020)
Why are people hung up on Nash?
Nash Wells is not wearing anyhting to hide his face in a police station full of cops. But the original Harrison Wells was a confessed murderer for killing Barry's mother. Barry himself is standing next to Nash perfectly at ease. If this was the man who killed his mother, he'd have his hand around the guy's throat. Also, he has a Wells face. But everything else about him screams Indiana Jones, not an academic in the first place. And certainly not a guy in a wheelchair who accidently blew a hole in Central City years ago.
Another cool thing in the episode is Nash doing his second best if not his absolute best channeling of Harry Wells. Getting a rise out of Barry to get him to stop feeling sorry for himself a couple of episodes ago/trying to get him forgive himself. And Nash is a channel for Harry in a way because he has Harry and Sherloque in his head literally telling him they are shocked Allen is even considering the deal fake-Singh offered. Nash is then able to give Barry some much needed perspective on what the result would be if he DID take the deal. Even if it was for absolutely PERFECT reasons, it wouldn't have worked out like he planned. "I understand where you're coming from. But if you go *this* far to bring her back, Iris won't forgive you. And you will have gained nothing." Only Harry Wells and Oliver were this much of a mentor to him, on equal footing. And now with Harry in his ear, Nash can be that.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
Awesome and timely...my second favorite movie
Everything is set up right out of the gate: the world they live in, what happened in the decade since the outbreak and the chaos the human colony must have clawed thier way out from. This is a movie that's done so differently than any post-civilization film and better than most remakes or sequels in sci-fi. Despite being completely blinded by his hatred for humans and letting his people fall apart, well killing and imprisoning his own kind simply because they were loyal to their old leader in whose name Koba rallies his people near the end, Koba is up there on the list of villains with justifiable motives. He has some motivation for his hate of humans haivng lived as a lab rat under their watchful eye and that is literally all he knows of humans, and he honestly believes Caesar has weakened thier people by choosing humans over his own kind. Or even letting humans grow strong in the first place. One thing from the first movie sheds enormous amounts of light on the Ape characters. Alz 113, which Will's boss was testing and Will's co-worker at the lab was exposed to brought on the simian flu. But Koba was the only ape exposed to it. When Caesar gave the apes at the sanctuary the drug to make them smarter, he gave them Alz 112. Will's original drug. The one Will's father Charles and Caesar both took for 3-5 years. So Koba has the dangerous drug in his system, the one that actually killed off half the planet. The one that 'does something in humans it doesn't do in apes'. No wonder he goes, pardon the expression, ape-s--t. I saw this movie for the first time 3 days Before everyone was 'shelter in place' ordered from the co-vid pandemic. So this was like the most appropriate timing ever. And not just because it deals with the Simian Flu that basically wiped out civilization and how desperate people can get when they are scared. But also just how quickly things can go to heck if we as a society or individuals get pushed. There actually is an underlying tone of 'you take away their creature comforts and they/we/humans become animals again'. And there is one moment where the rest of the apes, those who are not Caeser's die hard loyalists seem almost freed by Koba's hate. Which we've seen in manifold form in real life.
And of course Gary Oldman is always a win, even when comparatively in the background.
Smallville: Finale (2011)
Beautiful and not nearly so Confusing
One of the most talked about moments from the episode, other than Chloe and Oliver being married which happened earlier, is how Johnathan can be there, able to make physical contact with Martha who doesn't think anything of it. This is never addressed in the episode. But there is an explanation: Brainiac-5. Back in season 5 the evil Brainiac tried to convince Clark to kill Lionel by pretending to be Johnathan Kent. He could physically interact with everyone. Earlier in this season we saw Brainiac, the Brain Interactive Construct as he was intended to be: a much kinder, update of himself called Brainiac-5. In the episode Homecoming he taught Clark to stop being afraid, stop punishing himself and everyone around him for past mistakes and to embrace his future. And Martha doesn't say anything about it because she's used to the craziness by now. Everyone seems fixated on how Johnathan could be back from the dead and Clark's wedding and a room full of people not notice, but that's just it: there's nothing to say anyone except Clark and Martha can even see him. Martha is there and when 'Johnathan' interacts with them, you can kind of see that he's just being there for his friends and recognizing the importance of this moment...but not sharing it.
Anything I know about Brainiac-5 outside of Smallville is Querl Dox/Brainy/Brainiac-5 from Supergirl. This version of 'Johnathan' actually reminds me a little bit of him. The hesitation in putting his hand on Martha's shoulder in the barn. Knowing it would be comforting but worried about over-stepping. I mean obviously Supergirl hadn't been written yet, but it makes a certain sense after season 5. The evil Brainiac once impersonated Johnathan to convince Clark to kill Lionel. So why wouldn't the more benign, supportive Brainiac 5 we saw earlier in this season take Johnathan's form trying to give Clark a gift? To Have Johnathan there in some form for a moment as important as the wedding? Johnathan does seem to be talking about himself a step-removed here, like he hesitates to refer to himself as Clark's father. Also, over the course of 5 years Johnathan never had so little reluctance in referring to Jor'el as Clark's father. It really sounded like this was coming from someone who knew and understood Jor'el, like J'onn Jo'nzz or someone from Krypton.
Lex and Tess acting the way they do, Tess being all alone and never sharing screen time with anyone but Lex was inconvenient and trying, but unavoidable. Cassidy Freeman wasn't on set with anyone else. Everything felt if not particularly rushed, more grand, fantastical and sweeping than anything that had come before it. And everything did happen pretty much at once. Which jarred me a little but it was a pretty adrenaline-filled explosive season finale and that fast pace and 'no time' feeling probably was what they were actually going for. Annoying as it was, I think it kind of fit. Also I saw Crisis on Infinite Earths of the CW Arrow-verse, in which Tom Welling reprises this role before I actually saw this final season. I wondered why Clark seemed perfectly cool with Lex being president, given how much of a monster Lex has been since season 6. Clark was so cool with it because Lex didn't remember any of this. He was no longer the monster we've come to know over the past few seasons and might have been just a normal politician. He had truly been freed from the shackles of being first raised, then confused and angered by Lionel as well as his feelings of betrayal with Clark's secrets and presumption. In season 5 as he explains in season six's Nemesis he got sick of Clark always having judgment on speed-dial, assuming the worst of him. And now he doesn't have to deal with what he perceived as a knife in his back and the loss of his best friend. Which gives more weight and certainty to Tess' final act. Tess didn't exactly redeem him. But she gave Lex a second chance and the rest of the world (unknown to the world) a brighter future. Which apparently held 20 years later when Supergirl's Lex showed up. And Tom Welling's Clark mentioned Lex was president. And seemed 1,000% cool about it.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: A Life Spent (2017)
Beautiful Moments that get buried in Ashes
I knew Mack was self-righteous and a little tunnel-visoned. But back in the day he was focused on what was right in-front of his face and he did everything he did because he cared about his team and his friends. Now he spends the entire time preaching about not losing yourself and how far gone these people are. And when Tess does something incredibly selfless taking the blame for them and Yo-yo protects the team by framing someone else. All he can see for the next 3 episodes is that these people are monsters and that this world it is quickly turning the woman he loves into a monster. His preachiness has officially reached blind self-righteousness. He literally does not know what or who he is talking about. And doesn't care that anyone might see the situation differently. I am a Christian who was raised to see the humanity and goodness of others not thier failings and not on just 'what they did'. Mack's take from his 'I was taught do unto others', is actually offensive. And his attitude of 'we have to be better than them' is insulting. Given these guys have lived like this for years and know nothing else, its amazing they've held on to thier humanity as much, as completely as they have! They are better than You. These people, and definitely the rest of your team are better than you. They have been through hell. They are living in hell right now. And all you can see is 'that wasn't okay' And what you mean by it is 'that wasn't okay with me'. 'I have a problem with that'. I can't even focus on the issues this episode raised, I mean like fear from attacking a superior, something May understands judging by the look on her face, and Tess going out on a limb for strangers, doing quite an honorable thing actually given how scared she usually was. Tess and the actress that play her are brilliant. But such star in the ashes moments as I call them 'the human spirit is indomitable and we always find a way' get buried in those same ashes drowned in Mack's affrontedness. And skewing with statistics. Seriously in that entire scene all Mack focused on was that his girlfriend framed someone. Not that first Tess, then his girlfriend Elena saved the entire team. And Tess had no real reason to do so. At least, they certainly hadn't expected her to go out on a limb for them like that.
Merlin: The Darkest Hour (2011)
Awesome episode a lot of it missing
What I mean is this episode is stylistic, cool, well-thought out and with a very plot driven cohesive story. But the deleted scenes would have made it stellar, awesome, and soar high above the rest. Morgouse wants a return to the old ways, the old religion at the height of its peace and prosperity. At least 2 of the deleted scenes would have proven how much all of the characters had meant to each-other. And maybe given a little too much away about what would have happened in the end, but that wasn't exactly the greatest secret in the universe. There is one deleted scene in particular, set up completely differently than in this episode Arthur and Merlin at a campfire discussing how exactly to get out of this and Arthur actually gives Merlin a gift with his mother's crest on it. One of the only references to Arthur's mother since halfway through season two.
I imagine some of these were simply cut for time constraint purposes. But this episode is pretty awesome all on its own. Everyone is growing up or has grown up and everyone is far more serious and dedicated. Also Aggrivane may not be well named for Camelot lore (that was the name of one of Gawaine/Gwaines brothers) but it is a perfect name for the character himself. So aggravating and duplicitous.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Honeymoon (2018)
May is presented as being RIGHT...and I turned off the TV
This episode is the first to acknowledge that May and Daisy would be equally lost without Coulson and that's why they became close at all. But May being the hero in her confrontation with Coulson is wrong, inaccurate and biased on so many levels.
"You think Daisy shouldn't lead" I didn't say that." Well she shouldn't. She hounded Deke an untrained individual who spent his life trying to survive for doing what he could and not being up to a shield agents level. "You're running recklessly off the cliff of death" And Coulson says, "no I've *accepted my death and I have." But the biggest one was when Coulson says that he's being reckless but if this is the end it's better to go out doing something that matters. And May unequivocally says. You don't get to make that decision alone. That decision is made with the people who love you. And she is 1,000% dead wrong.
It is up to the person who is dying to decide what to do with the time he/they have left. It is the job of the people who love them to support their decision no matter what. Ramsey Russo (Bloodwork season six of Flash) laughed at his mother for jumping off the cliff of her disease with a smile on her face. He told Barry "It takes courage to fight death." Which seems to be May's whole hang-up. "Why aren't you doing literally every impossible thing you can to fight this? Why have you simply accepted it. And the reason is the same Barry (who had his death in the coming crisis hanging over his head) answered with: it takes more courage to Accept it.
DC gets this, or at least wrestles with the question. Marvel oversimplifies literally everything, even how to deal with the impending death of someone close to you. And I have no words for how stupid that is.
Superman & Lois: Injustice (2023)
Jordan is not his father: He's Jon-El
Seriously if Jordan Kent was real and I met him on the street, I'd walk up to him and say 'Hello Jon-el". It's the only reference he would get. But he doesn't have Jon-el's history. He didn't have an attention grabbing, only interested in your son once he has powers Kal'el for a father. He has a father who cares about him, who actually did raise him right. And somehow he's managing to push EVERYONE away while still claiming that everyone else is making everything about them. Johnathan and Sarah's self-interest is normal and realistic for thier age and actually a perfectly understandable reaction to thier unusual lives. I don't like seeing it, but it makes sense.
The reason I rate this episode as high as I do is because everything else about it is stellar. Seeing Luthor again, for the first time. Sam Lane being an involved family member who is as hurt as Clark and Lois to see Jordan becoming the attention grabber that he is. Wally West over in CW Central City was never this much of a showboat but even when he was a little bit he wised up pretty fast. And to have Jordan basically oozing disdain and callousness seems... like Jordan isn't the person on drugs to have taken the show down this particularly dark rabbit hole. I say it that way because he's giving a more convincing portrayal of being 'on drugs' than Tom Welling's Clark Kent did when he discovered Red Kryptonite. A substance that by its nature removes Kryptonian inhibitions and promotes aggressiveness.
"Mr. And Mrs. Kent are calling my house. They're really worried. It's like, they think he's on drugs or something."
"Clark would have to BE on drugs to be on drugs."
...Chloe and Pete in a season 2 episode Smallville noticing Clark on Red-K. The class ring that was supposedly a ruby was a red meteor rock. It was a pretty cool way for Tom Welling to shed Clark's upstanding morality for an episode. But this is 4 episodes in a row without any apparent explanation whatsoever. It's exhausting.
Superman & Lois: Complications (2023)
Bizzaro's cure is set up
A pun I guess. Because it is set up very well and thoughtfully, but it is also set up to fail. And if you're paying attention you can actually see why. Superman's blood is restorative. In season 3 of Smallville, Clark learns that his blood can cure severe liver disease and even cancer. Bruno stole a little bit of Superman's blood to start his cure and it seemed to work. But Bizzaro's world isn't just a world with a red sun. It is an inverted world. Even the physical laws are opposite. He grows weak from XK, uses Green K like a drug. He's weakened by the Earth's yellow sun because he was raised under square Earth's red sun. Most of the characters other than Superman himself who learned about this are either dead like Anderson or living on Square Earth like Tal-Rho. But you can actually see, and more importantly there actually is an established reason that makes sense in context for why the miracle cure doesn't work. And I don' think that happens too often.