The Equalizer (1989) – The Visitation, and Past Imperfect

The Visitation boasts a solid guest cast this week, Leonardo Cimino, James Tolkan as the baddie, Ruger, and the wonderful Jenny Agutter as Lauren Demeter. Written by Robert Eisele this episode was first broadcast on 1 February, 1989. Ruger is an arms dealer, but his most recent deal goes wrong when a gun runner attempts…

Hill Street Blues (1982) – Requiem for a Hairbag, and A Hair of the Dog

While the investigation into Mizell’s murder continues (and is ultimately resolved after a fashion), the precinct has a lot on the go in Requiem for a Haribag. Written by Mark Frost, this episode was first broadcast on 18 November, 1982. Hill (Michael Warren) is finally getting the boil on his backside taken care of, just…

The Equalizer (1985) – Desperately, and Reign of Terror

Robert McCall (Edward Woodward) is feeling a little under the weather, but there’s always someone who needs help, desperately. Written by Charles Grant Craig, this episode first debuted on 4 December, 1985. A bored and neglected housewife, Alison Webster (Blanche Baker) heads into the city one day to spend it with her friend, Samantha (Tovah…

M*A*S*H (1979) – Inga, The Price, and The Young and the Restless

Alan Alda writes and directs this episode, Inga, which first aired on 8 January, 1979, and definitely sees a bit of a course adjustment for Hawkeye’s (also Alda) sexist attitudes towards women. When Hawkeye hears about a Swedish female doctor coming to camp for a brief tour, he gets ready to turn on the charm,…

The X-Files (2000) – Patience, and Roadrunners

Series creator Chris Carter writes and directs the first monster of the week episode of season eight, first airing 29 November, 2000, which sees a few changes to the series. First and foremost, David Duchovny is no longer listed in the title credits, Gillian Anderson get top billing, and is followed by Robert Patrick. Scully…

The X-Files (2000) – First Person Shooter, and Theef

William Gibson and Tom Maddox pen First Person Shooter, an episode which first aired on 27 February, 2000.There are some elements of sexism and toxic masculinity throughout this story, because it has permeated the game culture that is at the episode’s heart. When a young man dies while playing an immersive First Person Shooter, evidence…

Mission: Impossible (1968) – The Cardinal, and The Elixir

John T. Dugan puts the IMF team through their paces in this episode he wrote, The Cardinal, which first aired on 17 November, 1968. Phelps (Peter Graves) and his team are asked to sneak into a country behind the Iron Curtain (which looks amazingly like Southern California) and deal with General Zepke (Theodore Bikel), a…

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) Season One – Blu-Ray Review

I was nervous when I first heard the announcement that Paramount Pictures would be taking the Star Trek franchise back into an animated format (despite the acclaim the original Animated Series garnered there is a lot of discussion over how much of it is to be considered canon by ‘true fans’).Then, throw in the fact…