Gislef Reviews

Space: 1999: The Dorcons (1977) Season 2, Episode 24

Dork-on amIrite?

[4/10 · 4 May 2025]

And so it ends with a FX bang and a whimper.

First the good stuff. Patrick Troughton is a class act, as always. And rocking a grey beard, which seems to be his own.

And Gerry Sandquist as Malic slimes like the primordial ooze. He gets all the best lines, even if some of them "borrow" from Earth's Romans.

Problem is the episode makes no sense. Watching to get any backstory on the Dorcons, the Psychons, or the S1999 universe at all? Forget that. How did the Psychons and Dorcons develop such a parasitic relationship with the latter? Why does the one Dorcon battle cruiser with the supreme leader who needs Maya happen to stumble across her and the wandering Moon? If the Dorcons need Psychon brain stems, why didn't keep some Psychons around in case--I don't know--the Psychons went extinct. Like they did.

But forget any of that. Watch Koenig crawl around ventilator shafts like Rollin Hand's buddy Barney from Mission: Impossible. Watch Catherine Schell either scream in hysteria, or grab a nice nap while Maya is waiting for a transplant. The rest of the Alphan crew do nothing for 40 minutes.

And if the Dorcons want Maya alive, why don't they first beam in an armed assault squad, instead of opening fire to destroy the entire base?

Although two of the Alphan no-names are willing to hand Maya over to the Dorcons. What does the mostly human crew think of the Psychon in their midst? What happened to them afterward? Were they court-martialed?

But forget any story depth. Just enjoy the pretty colors, the big bangs (but no theories), and what turned out to be the series finale.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Space: 1999: A Matter of Balance (1976) Season 2, Episode 15

"I picked the wrong week to stop taking coke."

[2/10 · 12 April 2025]

"I could give you a tranquilliser, it will make you feel better."

So speaks Dr. Russell. But I laughed out loud, visualizing Lloyd Bridges in 'Airplane'. Yep, I want my doctor to give me "tranquilizers" to make me feel better. :)

Unlike one reviewer, I didn't think Stuart Wilson looked like Martin Cumberbatch. But maybe my eyes were drawn to his yellow loincloth and his mostly-naked bod. Abs...

Tony's on about his beer again. Talk about your one-note character trait!

Why do they need a biologist when they have a general science officer. I get they want a specialist along, but why not also a geologist: the planet has rocks.

And Maya has a "tricorder" that's a portable camera with a drill bit attached.

And the alien guard with his tongue permanently stuck out. (sigh).

The planet is called Sinum and the guardian (that looks like something out of 'Power Rangers') is called Htaed. Spell them backwards to get it. I'm surprised Vindrus wasn't named "Yugdab".

And that's just the first ten minutes.

It's like watching a kinda updated 'Lost in Space'. With the same camp value.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Space: 1999: The Beta Cloud (1976) Season 2, Episode 16

B-Movie Palooza!

[3/10 · 23 March 2025]

The fun thing while watching this is to imagine it as a 50s black and white American horror movie, 'Robot Monster' as it were.

A cheap monster in a rubber suit, Prowse's imposing presence not withstanding, an ominous God-like voice alien, ("We are beyond your comprehension" Oh, okay), Tony Anholt as a young studmuffin, cheesy action movie at inappropriate times, people collapsing from a mysterious illness (transmitted through the vacuum of space?)... it's got it all.

Watch Catherine Schell: she looks subtlety embarassed in most of her scenes.

If you ever wondered why the show was cancelled after two seasons, this episode is why.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Space: 1999: Brian the Brain (1976) Season 2, Episode 5

In fairness..

[6/10 · 16 March 2025]

The episode isn't too bad,. Yes, Brian sounds like a Borscht comedian, but it's something. It beats the usual cold aliens, and Brian is like an evil R2D2 that can speak.

The crew's initial bemusement suggests they're relieved to be dealing with an actual villain.

The episode is no great shakes, but Brian is at least... something. Brian isn't a great villain, but by Space 1999 standards, at least the actor is enthusiastic and more than one-note. He's very childlike, which might account for the crew's, and actor's bemusement. Not since Leo McKern have we had a villain with some pizazz.

It also makes good use of Maya. For once. Yes, she knows what Michaels sounds, but maybe Alpha has Doctor Who videos on the computer. Brian is panicked, and "Michaels" doesn't have a lot of dialogue.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Space: 1999: The Exiles (1976) Season 2, Episode 2

Distracting performances

[5/10 · 16 March 2025]

The episode is okay, with an alien race using the Alphans as pawns. It's pretty bog standard for 'Space 1999'.

What doesn't help is Peter Duncan's dubbed voice, the andrgynous looks of Duncan and Stacy Dorning (they should have just got David Bowie) and the god-awful tortured screaming of Barbara Bain when Zova digs her fingernails into her clay bust.

Bain's voiceover/dub when Cantar is shooting at her at the end is also bad.

And the Golosians don't help the Alphans at the end. Ragnar thanks them and teleports them back to the Moon. Thanks a lot!

Overall, a mediocre episode let down by bad performances.

Wynonna Earp: Vengeance (2024)

Heck with Kevin Costner

[9/10 · 15 September 2024]

Between this and Calamity Jane, Tim Rozon is the ultimate Western actor. He's the ultimate studmuffin in this one but he was good in Calamity, too. And what he lacks, Greg Lawson makes up for.

The rest of Vengeance was okay, and it was nice to see the gang back together, Even minus Walls, and Bobo, like they couldn't have brought them back somehow. It also didn't help (or hurt) that they brought in a villain from an undisclosed part of Wynonna'a past. Like Nicole said in a meta comment, Vengeance seems more like a reboot than a reunion, what with the Black Badge corruption and the "Here's to the adventure" near-last line.

Space: 1999: The Troubled Spirit (1976) Season 1, Episode 22

It's Sitar-Zan, and his Moonbase Band.

[6/10 · 25 August 2024]

Yes, the sitar/flamenco music at the beginning is atmospheric, as is the dialogue-less cold open. But it's never explained or referenced again.

So what's it all mean?

The episode is very atmospheric and spooky. Although it seems to be shoehorned in. It could take place at any scientific base. What's it got to do with a runaway Moon and a plucky group of survivors? Heck if I know.

It seems like rehashed 'Forbidden Plant' with the "future ghost" twist. Which never makes much sense: why does the ghost kill its "creator"? Did Mateo gaining psychic powers let him see his future where he dies and gets his face scarred? The left side of his face (or maybe both sides) is slammed into the forcefield, but his right side is scarred? And he doesn't get scarred at all until the third slam? Shouldn't there be some partial scarring on the first two slams?

And if the ghost kills people by frightening them to death and fracturing their spinal cords (an admittedly chilling image), why does it resort to strangling Mateo.

Oh well, like Helena says at the end, it's all a great mystery.

So A for atmosphere, D for execution and coherence. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Space: 1999: The Infernal Machine (1976) Season 1, Episode 18

Yes, It's Talky, but...

[9/10 · 18 August 2024]

...Leo McKern is the one doing most of the talking. His plummy "dear friends" alone is worth the price of admission. Morse gets some good lines, and even Landau has a few good moments. Barbara Bain is... well, Barbara Bain. The Alphans are pretty much non-entities, particularly the newcomer filling in for Paul Hancock. At least Koenig gives him a welcoming speech, which is more than the rotating helmsmen ever got on Star Trek.

Overall, for a late-season episode, "Machine" isn't bad. Yes, Lew Grade threw some money at it (see Trivia), but it's more tolerable than some of the earlier episodes of Season 1. It's more like a Season 2 episode, but without the comic book sensibilities. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Space: 1999: Dragon's Domain (1975) Season 1, Episode 8

Why This Episode Is Strong

[10/10 · 27 July 2024]

Not only is the monster terrifying, but the characters are surprisingly human. More than in most of the first season. Barbara Bain actually gets to act, and Russell does more going up against Koenig then when she just nods her head and goes along with him. Even the bit with Kano and Koenig playing chess at the beginning has a bit of humanity. I'm not radically impressed with Gianni Garko as Cellini, although the bit where he cold-cocks Alan the second time is cute and he does "tortured" well. Despite some plotholes (Alpha happens to come across the monster?!?), this is overall the best episode of the series.

Kolchak: The Night Stalker: Bad Medicine (1974) Season 1, Episode 8

Best Episode of the Series?

[9/10 · 21 November 2023]

Yes, I know this is a contentious assertion, particularly with "The Zombie", "The Spanish Moss Murders", "Horror in the Heights", and probably a few others.

But "Bad Medicine" is my favorite for several reasons. One is Kiel's towering presence, and the fact he isn't obscured in moss. The "old McDonald"x bit in the highrise is goofy, but otherwise the Diablero is impressive.

Another is the music, particularly the "stings" when the Diablero reverts to his human form. The producers must have agreed, because they reused them in the future.

Ramon Bieri as Baker is surprisingly good. Sure he's a jerk: he wouldn't be a Kolchak captain if he wasn't. But I like his bemusement, "What's a diablero, some kind of Italian racing car"), his "Uh huh" back at Kolchak, and McGavin' sheepish look in response when he can't explain why the diablero is stealing gems.

It's also one of the few episodes where they make good use of all the cast. Emily supports Kolchak but calls "Finally!" when Kolchak says he's going to get a new suit, Updyke is finicky and caught in the threeeay phone juggling with Kolchak and Emily, and Vincenzo is... Vincenzo. Whether he's sleeping in his office to try to catch Kolchak when he comes in, or his half-hearted protest when Kolchak goes through Updyke's desk. This is presumably what McGavin meant when he said he was going for an office comedy.

There's also little bits. Watch Kolchak's parking at the gem exchange, and when the officer tries to get out of his car but can't because Kolchak parked too close. Or Kolchak trying to pass himself off as a "Kolworth" at the auction.

And Victor Jory and his "posse"'s bemusement when Kolchak seizes on Jory's explanation of how to kill the diablero. Like "These are just fairytales: this nutter believes us?!?"

Overall, I consider "Bad Medicine" the best of the series.

American Horror Stories: Daphne (2023) Season 3, Episode 2

Didsn't I see a Twilight Zone episode like this?

[5/10 · 5 November 2023]

Oh, right, 'From Agnes, With Love'. Granted, Reid Scott is better-looking than Wally Cox. And there's some psuedo-nudity and sex. If that trips your trigger... Otherwise, save yourself 30 minutes and watch that drivel instead of this drivel. You can at least see Bernard Schoenfield and Rod Serling make the best of it (it was a fifth season episode) instead of this modern-day updating of it, with a gratuitous pandemic and lockdown thrown in as well as the elements mentioned above. Or unless you wanted to see the late work of Manny Coto, who has done far better work both on AHS and elsewhere, than here.

My other issue is... it's not American, and it's not horror. It's horrible, but that's not the same thing. It's lukewarm Black Mirror, but Charlie Booker would be turning over in his grave if he was dead. Why someone thought high-tech horror with no supernatural element had a place in AHS, I have no idea.

Tales from the Darkside: Distant Signals (1985) Season 2, Episode 8

A very un-Tales Tales

[9/10 · 11 September 2023]

For starters, no one dies. There are no practical special effects, or over-the-top humor. The episode is more like Amazing Stories, Or the original Twilight Zone. It's more about the redemption of an aging star, and a now-modern commentary on revivals of old properties, and fan boys. "Distant Signals" was made in an era before the revival of intellectual properties and TV shows, and it's a rejection of AIs. Mr. Smith and his people are interested in bring back the original actors, the original creator and director, and the original "feel" of the show they're reviving. Rather than just recreating their favorite show with new faces, using AI.

Sure the episode is twee, but the cast helps. Darren McGavin is well... Darren McGavin. He plays the type of character that he was accustomed to, particularly "The Outsider" But McGavin was no stranger to short-run series. Kolchak only lasted 20- episodes before being ignominiously cancelled. And McGavin not only plays Max Paradise, but Van Conway, a one-shot actor who has fallen into alcoholism , realizing his best days are behind him.

Lenny Van Dohlen has always been a class act, if anyone remembers him from "Twin Peaks" and many others. He's perfect as Mr. Smith, downplaying the overt humor of Smith in the original short story (wearing jodhpurs?!?), while bringing in the fanboysish nature of someone reverentially getting to meet his idols and not letting their clay feet stop his plans. Also note the little alien touches, like his tilting his head and quizzical stare when agent Lew spots spewing 20th century Hollywood jargon.

David Marguiles is okay as Gil Hurn, the director who is essentially an expy of Steven Spielberg. He's does capture the befuddled feel of many modern-day directors who probably wonder why the trash they did 20 years ago is being brought back as a fan project now.

"Distant Signals" is basically a 10. The only thing that lowers it in my opinion is... how does Van Conway know all the stuff about Smith, which the actor spouts to Hurn at the end of the episode? That, and the episode is on the wrong show.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Kolchak: The Night Stalker: The Energy Eater (1974) Season 1, Episode 10

The Energy Eater... sucks in the plot's energy but forgets to spew it out

[6/10 · 25 July 2023]

The episode is an odd mix of interesting and... not. William Smith as Jim Elkhorn is the show's highlight, and I'd watch a show with Elkhorn as a main character. An MBA who is also an Indian shaman and a construction site foreman. There are other good bits: Elaine Giftos as Nurse Janice has some decent bits "A well-performed autopsy is a joy forever" is a line that always cracks me up, even if she gets a very unclimactic death. The INS office humor, with Kolchak telling Vincenzo that Matchemonedo is a Cuban boxing bantamweight, and then Vincenzo pawning the same off on Updyke when he asks.

The opening bit where Kolchak arrives at the dedication and the greeters pawn him off with some pithy lines, is also good.

But the episode overall is just kinda... blehh. Matchemonedo has a great presence on the plates, but when invisible most of the time, it's must less impressive than the invisible alien(s) in "They Have Been..." It just cracks walls, sparks, and makes a crackling noise. And it's defeated by... cold. Ho hum.

The supporting cast other than Smith and Giftos are also very blehh. Robert Yuro is the least memorable of the Kolchak captains throughout the series. Michael Strong is anything but, and he and Robert Cornthwaite are horribly wasted. Even if there are hints of rivalry between their two characters that go nowhere.

Also, wild theories just get tossed out. Kolchak and Elkhorn say Matchie sucks out energy and blows it out. When did they establish that? It's like the high-steel workers that die off-screen in Kolchak's prelude. Apparently the show was already running out of budget at the mid-season: we don't see any of this. So there's a bit where Kolchak and Nurse Janice go to Elkhorn's apartment, and Janice slowly falls for Elkhorn's charms while the neighbor finally leaves in irritation with her toaster. It's humorous, but it all takes place in an apartment set.

While the hospital underground corridors look like they were later borrowed for "The Sentry".

So I'm not sure what would have improved the episode in the time allotted. Maybe play up Matchie some more (how did it kill those workers at the beginning? And show not tell), and do more with the hospital setting. And give Kolchak a bit more to do in killing Matchie than just spray a fire extinguisher. Kolchak is a guy who grabs some monster-killing weapon and then... drops or breaks it. And then thinks his way out of trouble by setting a cross on fire or lynching a POC zombie. There's none of that here.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Tales from the Darkside: Effect and Cause (1985) Season 2, Episode 11

Zinc Oxide and You

[1/10 · 23 July 2023]

This episode reminds me of that segment of 'Kentucky Fried Movie'. Things start disappearing basically because some omnipotent and essentially unseen narrator says so. The beginning and end have effect following cause, but why does it all start? Who knows? And then in the middle, things just start disappearing and/or changing. Again, why? Who knows? It apparently starts when main character Kate starts painting over some paintings. And one has the face of a screaming woman, which later appears in a jump scare. Is the whole painting-over thing starting the reality-changing thing? Again, who knows?

Some people describe this as a comedy, but there's nothing funny about it. The hapless character gets in over her head, and comes to a bad end. She's a little flaky, but doesn't deserve her bad end. She learns nothing, she doesn't get a second chance to turn her life around. She just... dies, in a semi-ironic manner.

The episode reminded me of a lot of Darkside episodes, where there's no point. Someone gets a strange ability, or something strange happens to them, they tamper "in God's domain", suffer an ironic end, and that's 30 minutes over.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Gotham Knights: Night of the Owls (2023) Season 1, Episode 13

Thanks Nexstar!

[9/10 · 2 July 2023]

Thanks for them canceling GK when it was just getting good! Misha Collins had a chance to cut loose as Two-Face (rather than the po' faced Castiel, and Harvey Dent, and lights years beyond Tommy Lee Jonesl), Cullen became the resident "Everyone else is so serious and kinda nuts! I'll be the everyman)", Duela was more than just "the Joker's Daughter", Carrie finally had a reason to be on the show, and Stephanie and Harper were the resident lovers if not women (I'm no biologist!).

Basically the show moved beyond "the Batman is dead" plot" and was coming into its own. And now it's cancelled, right when it was building up some steam. Yes, it did have some Batman mythology, and was going to draw rancor from fans of that as a result of never paying more than lip service to it. But it moved beyond that in a way that 'Gotham' never did. Maybe because it was building on the mythology, rather than building to it.

So I'll miss GK, especially given the reality shows that are going to replace it. It wasn't a CW heavy-hitter, but it was solid at what it was.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Tales from the Darkside: The Yattering and Jack (1987) Season 4, Episode 7

Most of the Other Reviewers Are Missing the Point

[8/10 · 19 June 2023]

"The Yattering and Jack" is a Clive Barker story. Why? Because Barker wrote it. Read the original, in one of the Books of Blood. If Barker didn't want it to seem like one of "his" Hellraiser-type blood-and-gore store, it's because he didn't write it that way.

So if "Yattering" is more of a slapstick comedy, it's because Barker wanted to do a comedy. So bad, so sad. It's a fairly accurate adaptation of the story. It might not be a "Clive Barker kind of story", but that's presumably because Barker didn't want to do that kind of story. You can hate the story, but it's exactly what Barker wrote, and what Barker wanted. His story, his teleplay. If you want to hate it, hate him.

It's like saying Twilight Zone stories like "Coming for Cavendish" and "Mr. Bevis" aren't "really" Rod Serling stories because they're over-the-top comedies. That they may be, but they're what Rod Serling wanted. They, and "Yattering", are the writers stepping out of their comfort zones.

Quantum Leap: Judgment Day (2023) Season 1, Episode 18

A Sound and Fury Wrapping Things Up

[8/10 · 11 April 2023]

I'm not sure what was going on, but the episode moved along fast enough and purported to say so many things but that it was hard to come up with any other questions until well after the episode ended.

For instance, wasn't Martinez trying to help Ben in the asylum and battleship episodes? But he wasn't really helping him here.

Who started the nuclear winter? Was it Martinez, or Ben? If the latter, does that mean Martinez failed? And there's still going to be a nuclear winter? That's kind of a downer. How did Martinez and his backers start a nuclear winter initially? But if it wasn't them, why was Janis so determined to stop them?

Why were only three Ians involved with the mind-melding sequence? Shouldn't every Ian throughout time be helping? What about the Ian(s) before Ben arrived in the past and in the nuclear winter future?

Why was Jenn so tearfully overwhelmed by what was going on with Ben and Addison? Yes, it was very sad, but by I didn't burst into tears. Why would Jenn? The power of friendship?

In the earlier scenes, why were Ian and Jenn dressed like 60s hippies?

This and many more, could be explained by the second season so they didn't bother to explain it here. I got the impression the writer was using the rapid pace to cover the holes in the plot.

There were parts of this episode I liked, like the going through the three Jumps Ben and Martinez had shared before. Even those ended on a weird note, because it was filmed like a big heroic moment of Frankie killing Martinez. Frankie who? Yes, I remember her, but she didn't have a major part in the episode she appeared in, and it wasn't a payoff that she killed Martinez here. Although they made it seem like a big payoff for the character.

So overall it was an okay episode. It had the same flaws I've been complaining about throughout, that the production crew is more concerned about the timey-wimey nature of the show and the ongoing plot, rather than the character stuff. When they had decent characters, I thought the character-driven episodes were better than the timey-wimey ones. And isn't that what QL, at least the original one, was about? Granted the new show is going to something new, because it's all-new! All-different! Then why not just create a new time travel show? Timeless pulled it off, Flashforward pulled it off, Supernatural occasionally pulled it off, heck even Voyagers pulled it off back in the day. Invoking the old QL to make a sequel was nice and I suppose brought in an established fan base, but it still seemed like a gimmick and a way to hook in an established fan base, rather than something that had to be a sequel. And while the original QL did cry out for a sequel to give some closure and answer a few question... too much time has passed (alas, poor Dean Stockwell) and some people didn't want to be involved (*cough cough* Scott Bakula *cough*) for the new QL to work as a sequel.

And the new production team didn't seem that interested in doing a sequel. It's hard to put a finger on it, but for the most part the new show felt more like a cash grab and a way to bring in the original fans, rather than a heartfelt attempt to do justice to the original. I couldn't say why

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Quantum Leap: The Friendly Skies (2023) Season 1, Episode 17

"Average" Episode

[7/10 · 4 April 2023]

"Friendly Skies" wasn't a great episode, but it wasn't a bad episode, either. But then again, neither were a lot of the original QL episodes.

Main thing was that it seemed like some of the stuff, like Ben being in a woman's body, is a card the new show has already played and a few times too often. I'm not going to try and count the number of times in each show, but it sure seems like Ben has Leaped into a woman a number of times in one season equal to what Sam did in the five seasons of the original. It's no longer that special. But then again, maybe that's the point.

Good thing was that it felt to me like the supporting cast were all used to good effect, rather than one supporting character getting the spotlight. Ian got to help Ben fly the jet, Addison snarked a bit, Magic and Jenn both knew something about hijacking and found information on the hjjackers.

Also the supporting characters in the Leap got their moments. Cory got a few decent bits, Holly and Leslie got some decent bits. Paul Kirk (any relation to DC's original Manhunter?) had some decent bits. None of them were overwhelming except Cory, but I got the impression he was supposed to be.

Overall it was a decent episode. I wouldn't say it was incredible, but I wouldn't say it was horrible, either.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Quantum Leap: Ben, Interrupted (2023) Season 1, Episode 16

Make It Stop

[8/10 · 23 March 2023]

Or at least don't let it start back up. By which I mean the "mystery" of Ql. After two perfectly good episodes without it--except basically a cameo by Martinez--we got thrown back into the overarching storyline/mystery.

To its credit, this episode kept the focus primarily on Ben. It just seemed to me that the "main" story of the Leap took a back seat to the "mystery". Which is kinda the opposite of the original show, where the Leap always seemed like the primary focus rather than the elements behind it, like the Evil Leaper and Sam Leaping back to the Civil War, and into Lee Harvey Oswald. Or "Shock Theater", which this episode vaguely echoed. Except this episode had an evil head doctor, and sadistic orderlies.

Don't get me wrong: "Interrupted" was okay. But that's all it was. Unlike the previous two episodes, we didn't get to see Ben play someone different. In fact, I think Ben was entirely... Ben, for the entirety of the episode. The episode didn't give Raymond Lee anything to do. Which is what I think QL should be doing. It did with the original, why isn't that good enough for the new one? 2022 TV, amirite?

So I can't help but feel that Lee is getting underserved. He doesn't get to be the focus, the way Bakula was. Lee is just one member of the ensemble and the mystery is about more than just his Leaping.

And maybe it's just me, or is the mystery getting a bit convoluted? So Martinez is helping the project, but helping the project ultimately hurts Ben (or Addison?). And Janis is/isn't helping Ben, by helping him stop Martinez, who is trying to achieve the same thing as Ben. And then there's the newly-revealed mole, which I suppose makes sense but just adds one more complication onto an already complicated plot. I suppose if I sat down and binge-watched it all, it would make sense. But I'm old school: I like watching network shows once a week (or month sometimes with QL).

So "Interrupted" wasn't bad: it just seemed like a step down from the more recent episodes that focused more on the Leap and gave Lee a chanced to act.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Quantum Leap: Ben Song for the Defense (2023) Season 1, Episode 15

Still in the Spirit of the Original

[8/10 · 15 March 2023]

Credit where credit is due. I've been saying the production team should make the new show more like the original, and focus more on Ben then the "mystery" and give Raymond Lee a chance to act... and they have. Yay. So this episode wasn't much about the project, although it did give Jenn a chance to sit around and do more than look grumpy. It also gave the team something humorous to do, which to date they've been pretty much a bunch of stiffs. Them paying and betting was funny. Not LOL, but snicker-alicious.

The actual story with Ben wasn't anything major, but neither were a lot of the original QL stories. It's nice to see Raymond Lee getting to do funny. Last week with his "Would it distract you if I asked a stupid question?", and this week his coping with high heels and pulling around his suitcase in the process was again, worth a snicker or two. I also liked Jenn as the Observer, and I'd rather see her doing it than Addison. Which would mean Addison wouldn't really have anything to do. Darn.

There's not really much else to say. It was an episode in the spirit of the original. If the new show is going to call itself 'Quantum Leap' and be a sequel to the original, then this is the kind of show I'd like to see.

There were a couple of minor flaws. I thought Ben leaped a bit too early: I would have liked to see his triumph in court. I also don't object to Ben's Leapee having a same-sex relationship, but it rather neatly avoids Ben having to kiss a man. And Addison not being present means she didn't have to deal with the emotional angst of seeing her fiancée kissing someone. Or being kissed by someone. So the same-sex relationship and Addison not being able to be present seemed more like writing to avoid anything too significant and toss in some gimmick, than heartfelt intentions.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Quantum Leap: S.O.S. (2023) Season 1, Episode 14

Pretty Good Thanks to the Human Element

[8/10 · 12 March 2023]

Like last week, the episode was better once they focused on the "human" element, and less on the whole mystery of why Ben is Leaping, and what he's trying to do. Yes, Martinez was at the end and spoke a few ominous words, but he was pretty minor to the overall plot.

The focus was more on Ben and the person he was Leaping for, and less on the support team. Even Addison, and the focus was more on her father than her. Yes, Caitlin Bassett has a few "big" scenes and she acquitted herself admirably. But mostly she was providing guidance to Ben and functioned more as support than pivot. The episode could have progressed without her present and been pretty much the same.

And Brandon Routh was pretty good. As my SO noted while watching, she was surprised to see him in a "serious" role. Granted, that was after seeing him in a few season of 'DC Legends'. Still, it was nice seeing him in a dramatic role rather than comedy.

The only thing taking away from the comedy was the threat of World War III, which took away from Ben's presumed saving of Alexander. For one thing... what World War III? Presumably there wasn't a Word War III before Ben Leaped. Was there one in 1989 before Ben changed history? I don't recall one in the original QL, and there hasn't been any indications of one in the new series That seems kind of a big thing to overlook.

But in the original timeline, Drake launched WW3? And Ben prevented him from doing so. At least to my old and tired brain, that seemed to be what they were going for. So Ben saved Addison's father AND prevented WW3? That seems kind of big and deemphasized. See what I mean about the latter deemphasizing the former? But it seems unnecessary, too. Ben saved the world from WW3, but we never knew the world had one. So... what?

But that's nothing major, and the story focused more on Ben saving the day with his calculations on the transmitter. So I'd give it a pass.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

The Winchesters: Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye (2023) Season 1, Episode 13

Great Supernatural Finale

[8/10 · 9 March 2023]

First, I guess the writing is on the wall and the production staff knows it. This was pretty definitely a series finale for 'The Winchesters'. I'm in no way saying that officially because I'm in no position to do so. And someone creative could bring the show back. Heck, they essentially brought 'Supernatural' back with this episode, even if for only one episode.

Still, it's hard to see them coming back from this. John and Mary are off, and that's the premise of 'Winchesters'. It was the early days of the Winchester family, before Sam and Dean came along.

Except... as the finale told us, it really isn't. It's all a parallel world in the multiverse. This isn't "our" Mary and John. Granted, that explains the little discontinuity bits and bobs in 'Winchesters' that never really lined up with 'Supernatural'. But it also kind of renders it all meaningless. It's not "our" world, but a remarkable simulacrum with a John and Mary, but not "our" John and Mary. Why did we never hear about Lata, Carlos, and the Akrida. Because they didn't "really" exist. It was another world that we were seeing.

Granted, there were some good parts about this episode. Finding out the Akrida were a failsafe created by Chuck was good. And Bobby's reaction to seeing Samuel with hair was LOL funny.

Basically, the episode was the swan song to Dean that he didn't get in the 'Supernatural' finale. So great 'Supernatural' episode.

As for this episode, it seemed really rushed and incoherent. The Akrida were disposed of off-screen. Except... they weren't? Who were the ones fighting at the end? Were they new Akrida created by Joan after the original ones were sucked back to Akrida World? Were they stragglers? Some other creatures? Maybe there was an explanation but the whole thing seemed kinda rushed. I liked last week's clown episode, but it had nothing to do with the overall storyline. Maybe they should have used the penultimate episode to... penultimatize?

Ditto with Joan. We haven't ever heard about her, and then in the finale she's a major player and does some major monologuing. And her motivation seems to be the whole thing behind the Akrida. Except...she just glommed onto Chuck's failsafe. Why did the Akrida go with her? Were they using Joan, or was she using them? Or was Chuck using all of them? I get the impression I was supposed to care, but the whole thing was so rushed that I wasn't given a reason to care. All the big things like the Akrida being sucked back into the Ostrium (remember when that was a thing 12 episodes ago?) were done off-screen, and instead it boiled down to a swordfight and some cool scenes with Baby.

So overall I'd rate the episode low as a 'Winchester' finale, but high as a 'Supernatural' finale. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Star Trek: Bread and Circuses (1968) Season 2, Episode 25

Neo Rome has the Federation on the Ropes

[9/10 · 6 March 2023]

I like this episode for two reason. The first is the action sequences. The first televised fight between Spock/McCoy and Flavius/Achilles seems to go forever, but it probably more realistic for it. The bit where the trio are conducting a last-ditch fight against the Romans, while Merik redeems himself and gets killed for his efforts, while the Trek action music kicks in, is also nicely done.

The second is Logan Ramsey as Marcus. This is a character who plays the Federation like a fiddle. There are parts that are goofy: does Marcus really expect the entire Enterprise crew to beam down? Who's going to man the ship? Did the entire Beagle crew beam down searching for the landing party? But Marcus comes out on top every step of the way, and it's the only original episode I can recall where Kirk & Co. Don't "win". They're lucky to escape. Marcus is still the top dog, the Roman Empire still continues and doesn't get overthrown in the scope of the episode. Yes, the anvil drops with some vague promise that Christianity will eventually overthrow the Romans. But not with Marcus running the show.

B&C also has one of the best burns in the history of TV. "The thoughts of one man to another can't possibly be of interest to you, Merik" (sic). Way to humiliate your supposed ally, Marcus.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Quantum Leap: Family Style (2023) Season 1, Episode 13

The Hobgoblin of Little Minds

[9/10 · 6 March 2023]

Yes, in past reviews, I've complained that the new QL relies too heavily on the old show while trying to navigate a new path. So you'd think I'd be unhappy when it goes whole hog on the old show. And they kinda did that with 'Family Style', perhaps because Deborah Pratt was involved. Although as a director, not a writer

But I liked this episode, mostly because it was more like the old show. And... it worked. Yes, I know that seems contrary. But bear with me.

'Family Style' did what I've been saying the new QL should do, and did it well. For one thing, it focused more on the Leap than the modern-day mystery of why Ben Leaped and what's been going on with Janis. More power to it. I suppose we'll never be rid of that, and we weren't. But the spotlight was mostly on Ian, and Mason Alexander Park is the MVP of the modern-day cast. Ian really didn't have much to do, other than hang out with the version of Katie McGrath. And display his IMO poor fashion sense. But it was harmless, and it was well-acted. Park does more with a frustrated glance than most actors do with their entire body.

It also meant focus on Richard Lee, which is all to the good. Lee can act, which makes sense for an actor. And 'Family Style' gives him lots of opportunities to act. I thought we had put aside all the issues with Ben's mother, but this made some logical sense that he still had issues over her death. The focus more on Ben than the support team meant more time on Ben, which is good. It meant Addison shut up most of the time, and played the Al Calavacci support hologram rather than adding her own angst or provoking Ben's.

It also meant focus on the Leap of the week. It wasn't a monumental plot, but a lot of the originals weren't, either. It was mostly just tooling along, with a great central performance by Nandini Minocha as Sonali. I liked how Ben wasn't the one to take down Tanner, but the latter got her just desserts off camera. I also liked how it involved Ben using his past-present knowledge, with popups and Groupon.

It also meant that without the present-day mystery, there was more time to focus on stuff like the Prasads eating at the pizza place and talking about Vikas. That's something you wouldn't see much of in the last twelve episodes. My major regret is that they're doing it 13 episodes in, when they should have been doing it since episode 1.

One thing I do miss is the opening credits, which helped set the mood for the original show. The sappy but inspirational music, and the scenes of Sam Leaping from life to life, are something sadly missing from the new QL. Yes, I even miss the season 5 music. Ask your parents, kids, or catch it on Youtube. There's nothing with the new QL that really helps a viewer (or at least me) ease into the show. Yeah, it's 2022 and networks chase the almighty advertising buck by dropping/minimizing opening credits so they can squeeze more advertising in. But still, sometimes you need opening credits, and for more than winning an Emmy. Opening theme and credits _do_ things, and that's something loss on much modern network TV.

So good things, a more "traditional" QL episode and a bigger chance to tell the story and give Lee and Park some time to act. Bad things: yeah, it wasn't the most "realistic" story, but it's a sf/fantasy. 'Cinderella' wasn't that realistic, either. QL is a fairy tale of sorts, not "realism".

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Quantum Leap: Let Them Play (2023) Season 1, Episode 12

Better Than Cats

[7/10 · 8 February 2023]

Yes, I said in an earlier review that I wish they'd do more with Ian, and have Ben jump into him. And they sorta did that, so I suppose that makes me prophetic. Yay!

The episode was good. I'm still not radically impressed with Randall Lee, but he's got the "dull look of surprise" down. Granted, so did Scott Bakula in 'Enterprise', so I suppose Lee learned from a master.

I commented on another show that it's pretty much review-proof, and "Let Them Play" strikes me as the same, albeit for different reasons. It's not like in this day and age you can give a pro-trans story a negative review. Not without getting lots of thumbs down and accusation

"Let Them Play" was... okay. It was a lot less subtle than "Running for Honor" on the original QL. And there I go comparing the two shows again. But dagnabbit, if they don't want the new show to be compared to the old one, give it a different name.

The most interesting part were the bits with Ian. Whether it was his memories involved with the Leap, or Addison taking him into the imaging chamber, or the big reveal at the end that he was a Leaper, it was all pretty impressive. And very time-wimey when you think about it.

As I've noted before, I wish they were doing it on another show not titled 'Quantum Leap', because the original QL was initially more about the characters than the timey-wiminess. And that's a big part of what keep me out of the new show. I would rather find out more about the new characters, or see Ben interacting with the ones in his Leaps, than stuff devoted to the conspiracy and the time-wiminess. "Let Them Play" balanced it better than previous episodes.

As for the main (??) plot, as one reviewer outside of IMB noted, it seemed more like a fairy tale princess ending than anything. Gia gets accepted by Amanda, and Margie, , and the guy sitting next to Miriam, and the mean ole principal gets her legs cut out from her under by her assistant principal who conveniently turns against her. Basically Gia gets everything she wants, and much much more. It's not clear how Ben brought all of that to pass, or even if he did.

And does anyone else find it amusing that half the time when Ben is setting right what once went wrong, it's often his own initial mistakes that he's setting right?

The main thing that puzzles me about the episode is... who is the target audience? I figure the people who are tuning in at 10/9 central are pro-trans. If you're anti-trans, write a review and say so. So it's low-hanging fruit to write a pro-trans story for pro-trans viewers. Wouldn't it be more creative to sway people who oppose your view to your side, rather than write something for people who are already on your side?

Yes, the episode says things that need to be said. But it seems to be saying them to an audience who already knows those things. Say those things to the people who need to hear them? Or are the only people who watch QL "enlightened" viewers?

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?