Spock Amok, whose title riffs on The Original Series’ Amok Time, was written by Henry Alonso Myers, and Robin Wasserman. It first debuted on 2 June, 2022. Following their encounter with the Gorn, the Enterprise has returned to Starbase One for some shore leave and minor repairs as well as a diplomatic negotiation with a…
Family Ties (1986) – My Buddy, Once in Love with Elyse, and Paper Chase
Jennifer (Tina Yothers) is growing up, and Steven (Micheal Gross) doesn’t know where he fits in her life anymore, though he’s determined to find a way in My Buddy. Written by Alan Uger, this episode debuted on 6 March, 1986. Jennifer is moving into her teen years, she’s interested in a boy, and she’s going…
Doubleshot (2000) – Raymond Benson
The next Raymond Benson 007 novel, takes place a few short months after High Time to Kill. Ian Fleming’s creation, James Bond, is on medical leave and isn’t doing so well. There may be a lesion in his brain causing blackouts, and his medication seems to be exacerbating things. Even dealing with these issues, Bond…
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022) – Ghosts of Illyria, and Memento Mori
Leslie Hope directs Ghosts of Illyria. Written by Akela Cooper and Bill Wolkoff this episode first debuted on 19 May, 2022. While Pike (Anson Mount) and Spock (Ethan Peck) are trapped by an ion storm on a deserted Illyrian colony, the returning landing party, led by Una Chin-Rilly (Rebecca Romijn) come back infected with a…
Whiplash (2014) – Damien Chazelle
I am well aware that I’m playing catch-up on this title, but I knew this one would have to be one that I was ready and in the mood for, and wow, a fantastic film. The first half of the film is a huge stress-watch for me, but what an amazing ride and one that…
12 Angry Men (1957) – Sidney Lumet
Reginald Rose wrote the absolutely engaging and captivating script for Lumet’s 12 Angry Men from his own source material and received an Oscar nomination for it as well as a Best Picture nomination with his fellow producer Henry Fonda, both of whom deferred their salary to get the film made. The film was also nominated…
Avatar: The Last Airbender – Book 1: Water – The Blue Spirit, The Fortuneteller, and Bato of the Water Tribe
Zhao (Jason Isaacs) gets promoted to admiral in his search for the Avatar, and he recruits several expert archers to help him. Iroh (Mako) is happy for him, but Zuko (Dante Basco) is less than thrilled, in The Blue Spirit. Written by series creators Micheal Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, this episode debuted on 17…
One Piece: Season 1 – East Blue, Part 2
There is so much to discover on Crunchyroll, and I may have been foolish to dig into something so huge as One Piece right off the bat, but I was intrigued by the concept, and after watching the first few episodes I was hooked. The first half of the season helped set up a lot…
The Name of the Rose (1986) – Jean-Jacques Annaud
Jean-Jacques Annaud’s adaptation of Umberto Eco’s novel, The Name of the Rose, is an engaging tour-de-force with a fantastic cast, an intriguing mystery, and a fantastic setting. Amazingly, Sean Connery’s career was in a bit of a lull when he lobbied for the part, one which, it seems, much like Bond, and Indy’s father, he…
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022) – Strange New Worlds, and Children of the Comet
Akiva Goldsman wrote and directed the series opener for Strange New Worlds, which was first broadcast on 5 May, 2022. It had to tie in with the established canon of The Original Series, and what had happened in Star Trek: Discovery during season two. It also riffs on The Day The Earth Stood Still, which…
