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Farscape: What Was Lost: Part 2 - Resurrection (2002)
I honestly don't care for Sikozu or Noranti.
Jool used to really annoy me with all the screaming, and her frequent disparaging attitude towards people "less intelligent" than her. She seems to have moved past all of that now. Thankfully.
Sikozu... she reminds me of the early Rygel. He was always looking out for his own best interest, and frell everyone else. Similar to Jool's transformation, Rygel has changed... somewhat. Although he is still greedy and less than scrupulous.
Noranti... it's been a while since I've watched season 4, and I think some of her traveling pharmacy does eventually come in handy. Her repeated blowing whatever psychedelic powders in Crichton's face, her meddling and manipulation of others, is way out of line. I wouldn't blame any of them for wanting to leave her behind on the next planet, or just toss her out of an airlock.
Now for our latest villain. First there was Crais, then Scorpy was pretty bad, but Grayza is a real piece of work. Scorpius had his aurora chair, whatever her perfume or pheromone weapon is, it definitely is effective, with a lot less screaming. For a high ranking Peacekeeper, and they're all about warrior attitude, her methods seem downright dishonorable. The enemies keep getting worse, and now that Crichton has figured out wormholes, more or less, so the stakes are higher. And those priest guys will be part of wrapping everything up.
Grimm: Goodnight, Sweet Grimm (2013)
Having to do stupid things to move the story the way the writers want
Like some other viewers, I'm not terribly fond of Juliette. It not just that she gets bossy with Nick's wesen friends and allies. She inserts herself into a wesen-related (police) situation (in fairness, Nick should have laid out ground rules, although Juliette would probably just ignore). It's difficult for me to blame her for not wanting to be kept on the sidelines, now that she knows the bigger world. But for God's sake... there's this huge secret that people have made a major effort to keep her and the rest of the world in the dark about, so what does she do? "What kind of wesen are you?" If she had half a brain, she would have sat back, watched, listened and picked up on the dynamic. But she doesn't listen, as we will see again when she blows off the advice of Nick and Rosalee in a later episode.
Now, on to more stupid stuff. I won't mention that looking at paperwork in a fight is just plain dumb... beyond mentioning that someone else has pointed it out. What's really bugging me is "off the books" or not, I can see Nick as the cop/Grimm not wanting to just shoot an unarmed man. But really, the second the Baron pulled the sword out of the cane, it would be two or three bullets to the chest, or until he was no longer a threat. Screw the swashbuckling crap. But of course, we have to have characters do stupid things... or they don't get zombified and put on planes.
Colin from Accounts: Bandit (2022)
Over the top, it may be the point where Ash grows up.
It was over the top, aww hell and then some. That said, at the end of the previous episode Ash did say her friends "are animals."
Ashley may be a little late in her personal development here, but some of this strikes me as someone who isn't good at being mostly on her own. She wants a tribe... any tribe that will have her. Given that we already know she's at least somewhat socially awkward, I'm thinking that that plays into it. She's afraid if she stands up to them, they will turn on her and expel from the tribe... with the possible exception of Megan. Given the on-and-off situation with Gordon up to this point, he is by no means a sure thing.
Things to keep in mind: after the disastrous dinner, her mom did the "oh give her a few minutes, she'll be back". This tells me that Ash puts up with abuse, even when she shouldn't. And as far as I know, she hasn't a clue that Gordon stood up for her. Maybe she would have felt and acted differently had she known, but Gordon is not the kind of guy to say anything about it, and it seems unlikely her mom would. Hell, he didn't mention when she peed in his nightstand. Also worth noting, the text that her dad sends at the end calls her "mouse". Sounds like a person too uncertain, too afraid to stand up for herself.
Maybe, just maybe... this is where Ashley starts to be her own person, to be an actual adult. To step away from toxic friends or family if needed. To be her own person, and grow with Gordon, who seems like a really good guy (not perfect, but he knows who he is).
Fringe: Liberty (2013)
Tension and an inspired end run
I love Fringe. Not just some inspired crazy "fringe" science fiction, but they manage to weave philosophy, religion and metaphysics into the storylines.
It was a joy to see "our" Lincoln Lee still with Fauxlivia, and they are happy and complete together. Previously, I felt bad for Lincoln and his obvious interest in Olivia... knowing that her destiny was with Peter... even while he had been erased from the timeline. As for Fauxlivia... I have had a love/hate relationship with her. A warmer person (in general) than Olivia, but cheerfully ruthless when her job needed it... they both had "the job"; Olivia had a sister and niece, but Fauxlivia had her mom and her friends. Walter and Bell definitely had an influence on "our" Olivia's emotional state.
I guess my gripe is (what seems to me) a gaping plot hole. Olivia can cross between universes and take things with her. After all, it's not like she shows up naked. So Walter practically overdosing her with four doses of Cortexephan, and imposing a running clock... why, in God's name didn't he just give her some to take along with her? He could have given her two doses, and sent two (or more) with her. Two would be enough to get her there and back, if something went wrong (I.e. The Observers had taken over the other side as well). If all was well, they could give her another dose or two in the other universe for her to jump over to get Michael, then return to the prime universe.
Yes, I know, I know... it's more dramatic this way. I just hate seeing smart characters making questionable decisions.
The Twilight Zone: Nick of Time (1960)
"I'm the world's biggest jerk"
Okay... so the title is for all the Shatner haters out there. Despite... his history... ofscenerychewinginStarTrek... and... odd... cadences... oftenassociated... Shatner, in my opinion, did a good job in this episode. Hell, he even managed to look good without having his shirt ripped or torn off altogether, lol. The rest of you need to get a life 😉
On a more serious note, this is an excellent essay in freewill vs destiny; having faith in yourself vs having faith in something outside of yourself. Maybe you just need to have someone who believes in you. Even when... especially when... you may not believe in yourself. Most of us don't have an "easy" life. It does help when there is someone to have our back. Don, in this case, would have been lost without Pat pulling him back from the brink.
As the episode progresses, it's interesting to see the change between them. Initially, Don and Pat are holding hands, or arms around each other... but as Don's superstition kicks into high gear, the connection fades. When they get back to "their" table in the diner, they are now sitting on opposite sides. Pat loves her husband, no doubt in my mind... but she fights for him logically, not trying to belittle him or emasculate him. I say this as someone who will listen and respond to logical, thought out arguments, but hates ad hominem attacks. She doesn't stop loving him at the first sign of trouble, instead she doubles down on her desire to not let *anything* come between her and the one she loves. The world could be a better place if more people had that kind of commitment.
Hi Donsy and Patsy, how's by you? Get the hell out of that town as quick as you can, and call me when you reach NYC.
The Twilight Zone: Time Enough at Last (1959)
How do you hurt a man who's lost everything?
Read the following as part of a dialogue in a fantasy fiction book: How do you hurt a man who has lost everything? You give him back something broken.
I'd say this fits poor Henry Beemis. I understand doing your job, but the poor man was a bank teller... if he has no customers, what is he supposed to do, twiddle his thumbs? In this respect (and only in this respect), the bank boss is not out of line when Henry gets so engrossed in his reading, that he is letting it impact his work. But telling an employee that they can't do what they want while on their own lunch break? Maybe bosses could get away with that sort of thing back then, but a boss these days would get told to take a flying leap (to be polite).
His wife won't let him read at home. There is one small book of poetry Henry had hidden. After she catches him with a book in his hands. She asks if he would like to read some to her. His face lights up... until he opens the book and sees that the sadist witch had crossed out every page. Dumbfounded, he asks her why, and she proceeds to insult and belittle him. Not content to leave it as it is, she proceeds to rip pages out and throw them on the floor. Take his book and give it back broken (pages crossed out)... probably still could have read it anyway, take it away and break it some more by tearing pages out.
After the big one, he's all alone, but he has supplies available for years. I believe he only went to look for his wife out of a sense of obligation. Personally, I probably would feel obligated to put a bullet in her head... as she either has no heart, it's made of stone, or just flat out evil.
He finds the library... Heaven! No clock to watch, no emasculating wife, and as many books as he can read... Henry is, theoretically, the only one left alive. Well, there could be others, but nobody anywhere near close. And the universe turns around and gives him back something back broken all over again.
This episode is one of the highest rated in history, and for good reason.
For All Mankind: Seven Minutes of Terror (2022)
Space race by mostly stupid/arrogant people.
So, the Soviets wrecked their ship by pushing their stolen (espionage) engines. Maybe there was a "thanks for saving us from certain death", but I don't remember it. So how do they repay their debt to the Americans? They try to put first foot on Mars as a nice F-U to their rescuers. Hey Russian doctor, I want you to keep tabs on combined crew well being. Soviet commander: "Again, please don't give orders to my crew." Frankly, Poole should have said "you're guests here, but you have your suits and the airlock is over there. Do svidaniya comrade".
Poole... sheesh. You have *a* ship. You saw how the soviets shot themselves in the foot to be first. Ed and his crew made orbit first, guess that doesn't count as "first". Nope, I'm going to risk my one and only ship to land in a storm. Crash land. Great job, Poole... if it wasn't for the free-market team with the flying hotel, you know, they one way better equipped... hydroponics, landing craft, spin gravity, Danny (no wait, that last one is an albatross around the neck). Just couldn't let the Phoenix team have the win.... It's still a win for the West. But nope... we're going to crash our ship to beat a free-market enterprise. Then go hat in hand for a ride home in a couple of years.
I can see it now... Soviets continue to act like entitled pricks. Everyone is going to trying to suck on the Helios/Phoenix crew for resources to save NASA/Roscosmos collective asses.