I'm serious. This episode has everything I didn't even know I needed. In fact, I can say that about this entire season. In an era of increasing bleakness, strife, and malice in the world, the renewed vision of hope and optimism embodied by Gene Roddenberry is alive and well here. I won't spoil anything in this review; however, I will say that this episode strikes an emotional chord. If you loved TNG - I know I do, I grew up on the series - you'll end up ugly crying. You'll laugh out loud. Sometimes you'll do both within a breath of the other. There are some detractors out there, certainly - and they are welcome to their opinions - but the fan service dished up in this episode precisely sates an appetite to Boldly Go. Thank you, Terry Matalas, the writing crew, the directors, the entire main and guest cast, for giving me the most entertaining season of TV I've experienced in a long, long time.
Reviews
3 Reviews
Stunning.
22 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
To sum it up in one word, this episode is stunning. The 4th episode in the Vicious arc (after Ballad of Fallen Angels, along with Jupiter Jazz parts I and II), this episode picks right up on the tension we last felt when Spike encountered Vicious in "Ballad", but the depth of the rivalry between Spike and Vicious becomes ever more clear thanks to the events of Jupiter Jazz. This is where all those elements finally converge, and we get to see where the road takes us on the journey to Spike's conclusion.
And let's not get this wrong - this is a Spike-centric episode. Jet, the only remaining member of Bebop, serves a support role. Faye visits for a scene and is even less prevalent than Jet. This feels fine, however, as the previous episode did a nice job of finalizing a few story arcs, and nothing feels unresolved. This is the moment we've been waiting for.
This episode, in particular, is pure tension. There's a little bit of action, but the violence serves a narrative purpose to add even more to the already existing tension, as he finally consolidates power. While the second part of this episode is absolutely legendary, and should be considered so, it wouldn't have succeeded the way it did without the masterful set-up job this episode did for it.
And let's not get this wrong - this is a Spike-centric episode. Jet, the only remaining member of Bebop, serves a support role. Faye visits for a scene and is even less prevalent than Jet. This feels fine, however, as the previous episode did a nice job of finalizing a few story arcs, and nothing feels unresolved. This is the moment we've been waiting for.
This episode, in particular, is pure tension. There's a little bit of action, but the violence serves a narrative purpose to add even more to the already existing tension, as he finally consolidates power. While the second part of this episode is absolutely legendary, and should be considered so, it wouldn't have succeeded the way it did without the masterful set-up job this episode did for it.
Picking up from season 2...
25 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
A solid season premier - stronger than what we saw at the start of season 2. There's a lot of really fun references to 90s Star Trek that made me absolutely warm and fuzzy inside, in the way they were done - the references were especially heavy on Deep Space Nine, and First Contact (the movie) - including a very special voice cameo from a series legend. On top of that, the supporting cast was great - particularly Bobby Moynihan's unhinged space tourist. The episode heavily focuses on the main four (Boimler, Mariner, Tendi, Rutherford) while, somewhat surprisingly, the bridge crew isn't heavily featured, despite its premise. Alas, that didn't matter - this episode was a lot of fun, it was well written, and establishes a clear and fun direction for season 3.
Tell Your Friends