3 in Dax (Deep Space Nine S01-E08)

The fugitive Dax is charged with treason... and the murder of my father.

I like this episode. Dax, in the 90s, for its entire runtime was a compelling story modeled on the Ship of Theseus argument way before Wandavision and its 2 minute scene. It’s only fault is that the episode didn’t draw attention to itself as identity metaphysics.

What I also love of the episode is that it deals with lies: those we tell ourselves, the reputations we value, and the lies a country tells to itself too.

3 in Q-Less (Deep Space Nine S01-E07)

No wonder you're not commanding a Starship.

I forget. Did Captain Picard ever do the jamaharon with Vash?

The onetime entanglement of Captain Picard resurfaces from the wrong side of the wormhole: Lt. Dax found her in the Gamma Quadrant. She said she was stranded for 2 years - probably pre-wormhole - which should have been a warning but getting lost was not a crime. In any case, Vash has dependably brought trouble aboard the station along with her previous ride to the Gamma Quadrant: Q.

This episode is a momentum killer as much as momentum can be in an episodic TV series. We’ve seen glimpses of Bajor, tackled some history of the DS9’s Bajoran crew; Tosk was just the first of what could be beyond the wormhole. 

Well, technically today’s trouble came from the wormhole, but with old faces from The Next Generation it felt more like a bridge than a road to new adventures.

Excalibur (The Warlord Chronicles)

Excalibur by Bernard Cornwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I always come back to the magic, and like in the previous two books I don’t know where I want to be. We can have a world where magicians levitate at will, shoot energy blasts, shape change, teleport, or none of it, just to keep this a grounded medieval adventure. The previous two struck a difficult balance between actual magic, dumb luck, and men who know a bit of science and present them as magic.

Enemy of God (The Warlord Chronicles)

Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I like this, book 2 of the Warlord Chronicles, Enemy of God, better than the first. Reason one is that everything has already been setup in part one and now the story can go into action as they say. Lancelot, Merlin, and Galahad are firmly set that all the story could do is begin its steady march towards the inevitable.

The Winter King (The Warlord Chronicles)

The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Winter King reads like the narrative presents itself to be, a personal take by one of Arthur’s warriors.

There are parts when you feel like it’s messy and long, such as getting taxes and telling the story of a battle from a perspective right along the shield wall. Names of places like Dumnonia and Powys, or a king like Gorfyddyd doesn’t help in the marketing, or not even my own memory as I struggle to recall half the names and places in the story. Camelot and Excalibur have different names too which I now fail to recall. But I have to admit it makes it more real, like a history book.

3 in Captive Pursuit (Deep Space Nine S01-E06)

Chief O'Brien and Tosk enjoying common ground: engineering problems

The Gamma Quadrant comes alive for the first time in the episode Captive Pursuit. An unassuming ship came out of the wormhole, damaged; carrying a nervous looking passenger. He is a Tosk, a species bread to be the most formidable prey in an interstellar fox hunt. 

Before you know it, the  visitor that intended to just pass through becomes a friend. Is Tosk a pitiful creature needing Starfleet help? Or should the Federation pity themselves for having holosuites? Let me explain.

Here are 3 notable moments in Captive Pursuit.

Godzilla vs Kong (2021)

Evading Godzilla's blast from underwater. Why did Kong even survive this?

My impression of this universe of Godzilla and King Kong is that they are nature personified. The kaijus are the real lords of earth. Gods. 

3 in Babel (Deep Space Nine S01-E05)

Commander Sisko and Doctor Bashir talking about who could have made the virus

Let’s just call this the pandemic episode, biblical name of Babel notwithstanding. There’s the speaking-in-tongues part but none of it due to the chasing of the divine. It was a biological attack meant for the Occupation but triggered way too late.

3 in A Man Alone (Deep Space Nine S01-E04)

via GIPHY

The introduction tour continues with episode 4 - A Man Alone - with Security Chief Odo, the second non-Starfleet officer under Commander Sisko’s authority, taking point.

Like Major Kira, Odo has history tracing back to the Occupation, but unlike Kira who has taken an aggressive stance against the Cardassians, Odo is that rare animal who is respected by both Cardassians and Bajor. He was security chief then and even up to now in a Deep Space Nine under Bajoran/Federation control. 

And one of the people he put away, a Bajoran named Ibudan, came back to the station to get revenge.

Here are the 3 notable moments in the episode.

3 in Past Prologue (Deep Space Nine S01-E03)

Would you blame Tahna's methods or think it justified because he had suffered?

Past Prologue dives into the adage ‘one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter’ by reuniting Major Kira Nerys with Tahna Los, a Bajoran and fellow freedom fighter. They fought against the occupation using many of the same methods against the Cardassians. There is no insurmountable difference between them if there is at all. 

And yet when the Cardassians left, Kira accepted a post with the provisional government while Tahna fights that same government under the Kohn-Ma. From 2 freedom fighters it is now a case of former freedom fighter reunites with terrorist.

3 in Emissary (Deep Space Nine S01E01-E02)

Kai Opaka has found the Emissary, a non-Bajoran

This is to start a new writing exercise. Let’s see if I can finish all 7 seasons.

For every Star Trek Deep Space Nine episode I will highlight 3 things, anything of interest good and bad. About month ago, I finished watching the entire series for the first time and I have to say, it is the best spin-off in the franchise. 

3 Things I like in the Superman and Lois Pilot Episode

Would you look at that suit. 

It is different from the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover where I last saw lead stars Tyler Hoechlin (Superman) and Elizabeth Tulloch (Lois) as guests. Without that odd looking lock between shoulder and cape its design is closer to Man of Steel, giving the impression that it wants more distance from the Arrowverse. 

And if you count the cinematography, the music, the special effects, the drama, the social issues and themes introduced: Superman and Lois can compete with Man of Steel. But for me it is the better Superman. A surprising conclusion considering I gave up on Arrowverse. 

One hopes the series will not run out of steam, after all, this is just the pilot. These are the 3 noteworthy points of interest in the new series Superman and Lois.

How not to Protect a Child - Mandalorian Chapter 16

In the real world this moment means 'oh shit who did we give the child to?'

What's with that Home Invasion in Cobra Kai?

The ending that shouldn't be, a truce, because Sam was approaching.

A bullying story requires flying under the radar of all adults – they should not have any reason to fully intervene. That is so we get the satisfying resolution of the bullied gaining confidence, learning to stand up for himself which then leads to gaining everyone's respect. 

If adults were in the thick of these kinds of stories then all they will do is file complaints, maybe police, and lawsuits. And yes it could get worse that lawsuits. 

No standby Stocks for Repair - Timex Marathon

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3 Reasons Why I liked Into the Forest (2015)

Static

Would you have survived the lockdowns without computers, the internet, and Netflix? Would you have survived without electricity?

While living deep inside the beauty of the forest, like any of the young generation sisters Nell and Eva were looking forward to medical school and a prestigious dance group respectively. Nell was using computers for studying while the dancer Eva a great sound system in full blast when suddenly all electrical power was lost. Into the Forest is the story of their struggle.

These are the 3 things I liked of the movie. There are spoilers.

3 reasons Why the 100 series Finale made No Sense

Clarke Griffin on the warpath

My watching the 100 up to its finale is a case of loving the characters and the world building - up to season 2 at least -  but hating where it’s going. It was always shorter than the average season which helped me soldier on. 

I am surprised that the series finale ended in a great victory for all of humanity. No human is left in the physical mortal plane, transcended in what can only be described as a sci-fi version of heaven.

These are the three things I did not like about this “win”. This rant has spoilers.

Incendies (2010)

War is brutally simple. 

It will always be just the one thing: live or die; loss or victory; longing or hatred; joy or sorrow. Incendies doesn’t get with that program. It manages to be beautifully nuanced.

3 Reasons Why I hated the movie Triple Frontier (2019)

Former Special Forces on the run and on mules

I give you three reasons why Triple Frontier sucks and there are spoilers.

Booksmart (2019)

Books are only the beginning.

Booksmart is the misadventures of Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever). They have dedicated all their time to each other and to academics; they always get good grades, teachers love them. Classic overachievers. Now the best friends have one night left to see (high school) life for the very first time.