New uniforms, additions to the cast, and the unmentioned disappearance of other cast members propels Moonbase Alpha into its second season. The changes aren’t discussed, and we’re thrown into the new season with a brand new theme and opening credits which introduces new cast member Catherine Schell before her character is even introduced in the…
Tag: command
Space: 1999 (1975) – Guardian of Piri, and End of Eternity
Computer is causing problems, and Moonbase Alpha has drawn close to a strange planet which is having adverse effects on the Alphans. Guardian of Piri was written by Christopher Penfold, and first debuted on 13 November, 1975. As the moon draws closer to a odd world, computer’s data, and mechanical instruments become increasingly unreliable, Eagle…
The Sound of Music (1965) – Robert Wise
My return to the Musical chapter of the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book sees me settling into Robert Wise’s multi-Oscar winning (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound, Best Editing and Best Music) adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The Sound of Music. Starring Julie Andrews (in an Oscar nominated performance) and…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991) – Redemption Part II, and Darmok
Captain’s log: stardate 45020.4 Season five got under way on 23 September, 1991 in this episode written by Ronald D, Moore. Worf (Michael Dorn) has gone to fight alongside his brother Kurn (Tony Todd) in the Klingon Civil War. Meanwhile, Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the Enterprise are trying to stop the…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1989) – Evolution, and The Ensigns of Command
Captain’s log: stardate 43125.8 This is the season that things really start to gel for the series, there are new uniforms, stronger writing, even better visuals, and Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) returns. And it all starts with a Wesley (Wil Wheaton) story. Evolution was written by Michael Piller from a story he and Micheal I….
Star Trek: Battlestations! (1986) – Diane Carey
The Star Trek novel on the Book Shelf this week is the last one to feature an author created character in the lead role. Commander Piper, previously appearing in Dreadnought! is back in this follow-up that is set only weeks after the first novel. Told in the first person, Piper’s story is exciting, and fits…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1989) – Pen Pals, and Q Who
Captain’s log: stardate 42695.3 Melinda M, Snodgrass writes the teleplay for this episode, based on a story by Hannah Louise Shearer. Pen Pals first aired on 1 May, 1989. There are some good ideas at work in the episode. Data (Brent Spiner) answers a distress call from a young being on a planet in an…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1989) – Time Squared, and The Icarus Factor
Captain’s log: stardate 42679.2 Maurice Hurley pens the teleplay for this episode, that first aired on 3 April, 1989, basing it on a story by Kurt Michael Bensmiller. I’ve always liked this one, or at least most of it, I wish they had done more with the second Picard (Patrick Stewart). But I am getting…
Star Trek: Enterprise – The First Adventure (1986) – Vonda N. McIntyre
Long before the 2009 reboot author Vonda N. McIntyre penned this non-canon telling of the first adventure of Captain Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Scott Sulu and Chekov as they are united for the first time aboard the Enterprise. James Kirk has just been given command of the Federation flagship, and is looking forward to a…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1988) – Arsenal of Freedom, and Symbiosis
Captain’s log: stardate 41798.2 Arsenal of Freedom written by Richard Manning and Hans Beimler from a story by Maurice Hurley and Robert Lewin with an original airdate of 11 April, 1988 is a bit of a mixed bag. The Enterprise arrives at a desolate planet, with no life forms detected Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the…
The Mind Reels 