“Fear is a malleable weapon.” Season Five of The Clone Wars got underway with Revival, which actually comes later in the chronology, so first up for us is A War on Two Fronts. Written by Chris Collins, this episode launched on 6 October, 2012. Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor), Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter), Ahsoka Tano…
Tag: commander
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1997) – Blaze of Glory, and Empok Nor
Station log: stardate unknown Eddington (Ken Marshall) returns in this episode written by Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe that first aired on 12 May, 1997. The Maquis are planning on launching a bio-weapon assault against Cardassia, who since their alliance with the Dominion has made things more desperate for the Maquis. Captain Sisko…
Space: 1999 (1976) – Seed of Destruction, and The AB Chrysalis
Broadcast on 11 November, 1976, Seed of Destruction, penned by John Goldsmith lets Commander John Koenig (Martin Landau) indulge into that classic sci-fi trope, the evil twin. He and Carter (Nick Tate) are investigating a strange asteroid that Maya (Catherine Schell) reports is giving off a strange energy reading. While Carter works on the Eagle,…
Space: 1999 (1976) – Ring Around the Moon, and Missing Link
Ring Around the Moon is the first episode up this week, as I continue my travels with Moonbase Alpha. Written by Edward di Lorenzo this story first debuted on 15 January, 1976. A strange yellow energy field has an adverse effect on one of the Alphan techs, as a strange planet pulls it into temporary…
Space: 1999 (1975) – The Full Circle, and Another Time, Another Place
The Full Circle was written by Jesse Lasky Jr. and Pat Silver. It first aired on 11 December, 1975. And honestly, has my vote for worst episode of the season, if not the series. The moon comes across a strange planet, one whose surface is shrouded in a strange mist. When an Eagle, and additional…
Space: 1999 (1975) – Alpha Child, and Dragon’s Domain
Moonbase Alpha continues it’s not exactly lonely journey through space – there is a lot of life out there apparently, and all so conveniently close for storytelling purposes. First up this week, Koenig (Martin Landau), Dr. Russell (Barbara Bain) and Professor Bergman (Barry Morse) meet the Alpha Child. Written by Christopher Penfold and Edward di…
Patton (1970) – Franklin J. Schaffner
George C. Scott’s Oscar winning turn as controversial military commander, General George S. Patton is my next stop as I explore the recommendations from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Movie book following my screening of Saving Private Ryan. Based on a history of Patton as well as Omar Bradley’s (portrayed by Karl Malden…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991) – Data’s Day, and The Wounded
Captain’s log: stardate 44390.1 Airing on 7 January, 1991, this Data (Brent Spiner)- centric episode did something that hadn’t been done in Star Trek before. It gave us a ‘day in the life’ episode. It also further cemented Miles O’Brien (Colm Meaney) in the Trek Universe. Written by Harold Apter and Ronald D. Moore, the…
The Twilight Zone (1960) – People Are Alike All Over, Execution and The Big Tall Wish
There’s the signpost up ahead… Paramount takes me even further into The Twilight Zone as I explore the next three episodes of the series. First up is People are Alike All Over written by Rod Serling, based on a short story by Paul Fairman. It stars one of my favourite character actors of all time,…
Ender’s Game (2013) – Gavin Hood
No matter what you think of Orson Scott Card’s personal politics, there is no denying that Ender’s Game is a solid, strong and involving novel. It shouldn’t have taken as long as it did for a film adaptation for this one to come along, but it finally did in 2013, and is my next stop…
Star Trek: My Enemy, My Ally (1984) – Diane Duane
I return to the 23rd century with this week’s book shelf with the next Star Trek title in the Pocket Book series. Penned by Diane Duane, who had previously written The Wounded Sky, this one plays like a bit of a Cold War Thriller, at least to start, rotating the Romulans in as the baddies…
Star Trek: Web of the Romulans (1983) – M.S. Murdock
It’s back to boldly going with this week’s book shelf, as I venture into the Web of the Romulans, a 1983 novel, which is surprisingly solid, but for one little annoying sub-plot. Set during the original series, and taking place between the episodes, Tomorrow is Yesterday, and Space Seed, Murdock creates a bit of…