Set in the 1990s, young Lamia (Baneen Ahmad Nayyef) lives under Saddam Hussein’s regime with her grandmother, Bibi (Waheeda Thabet) and her pet rooster. Hussein’s 50th birthday is two days away, and every year, one child from each class is selected to make a birthday cake, no matter their circumstances. Lamia, Bibi and the rooster…
Tag: ill
Stargate: Atlantis (2004) – Poisoning the Well, and Underground
Ethical questions come up for Weir (Torri Higginson), though Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) doesn’t seem to have any in Poisoning the Well. Written by Damian Kindler from a story by Mary Kaiser this episode was first broadcast on 20 August, 2004. Sheppard’s team have made contact with the Hoffans, a human race that welcomes the team,…
Stargate SG-1 (2003) – Prophecy, and Full Circle
Oh oh! There are problems for Jonas Quinn (Corin Nemec)!While on a mission to a Goa’uld controlled world with the rest of SG-1 he falls ill and is taken from active duty. But not before he has glimpses of the immediate future. Written by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, this episode, the penultimate of season…
Stargate SG-1 (2002) – Shadow Play, and The Other Guys
Stargate Command is stunned when they are contacted by Jonas Quinn’s (Corin Nemec) people the Kelowans. They are seeking aid, and are offering naquadria in exchange. O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) is less than thrilled with the idea considering how some of the planet chose to paint Daniel (Michael Shanks) as a traitor. Things take an…
Starman (1986) – Society’s Pet, and Fever
Janet Leigh guest stars in Society’s Pet. Written by Ross Hirshom, this episode was first broadcast on 28 November, 1986. Paul (Robert Hays) and Scott (Christopher Daniel Barnes) are contacted by a private investigator who has been looking for him. It seems Scott’s foster-aunt, Antonia Weyburn (Leigh) has offered Scott a $10,000 inheritance, so the…
A House with Good Bones (2023) – T. Kingfisher
T. Kingfisher aka Ursula Vernon has entertained and creeped me out with each of the books I’ve read by her; three to date, with A House with Good Bones being the latest. Once again she introduces us to a relatable character, in this case entomologist Samantha who, when her summer dig is cancelled, decides to…
Hill Street Blues (1985) – An Oy for an Oy, and Fathers and Huns
Belker (Bruce Weitz) is worrying about Robin’s (Lisa Sutton) pregnancy, and where their relationship is going. He’s thinking about marriage. But he’s also having a problem with a pair of brothers (Michael Lerner and Alex Henteloff) who seem to be screwing one another over for some diamonds, and Belker is caught in the middle. An…
Burnt Offerings (1976) – Dan Curtis
The 1976 creepy house tale of Burnt Offerings didn’t engage me as much as the novel did. It has a fairly solid cast, but honestly, it didn’t quite have the eeriness that seemed to permeate the book. The film features Oliver Reed, Karen Black, Bette Davis, Burgess Meredith and the always-menacing Anthony James. The Rolf…
The Equalizer (1985/1986) – Back Home, and Out of the Past
It’s Christmas in New York, but that doesn’t mean Robert McCall (Edward Woodward) is expecting a silent night. Back Home was written by Joel Surnow and Maurice Hurley from a story by Neil Cohen, and it first aired on 18 December, 1985. His son, Scott (William Zabka) is still in Paris, and trying to organize…
Star Trek: Voyager (1999) – The Disease, and Course: Oblivion
Captain’s log: stardate unknown Micheal Taylor pens this Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) episode from a story by Kenneth Biller. It first aired on 24 February, 1999. The Voyager comes across a race of aliens, the Varro, a group of space-faring nomads, that are more than a little xenophobic. They’ve been in space for four centuries,…
The Mind Reels 