Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991) – Devil’s Due, and Clues

Captain’s log: stardate 44474.5 With an airdate of 4 February, 1991, this episode, written by Philip LaZebnik, from a story by LaZebnik, and William Douglas Lansford, has always been a fun one for me. Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Data (Brent Spiner) find themselves in a mystery when they answer a call from a planet that…

Star Wars: Leia, Princess of Alderaan (2017) – Claudia Gray

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… Over the course of three novels, Claudia Gray has proven herself to be my favourite voice in the new Star Wars canon books. Her latest novel, Leia, Princess of Alderaan gives us a look at the teen years of the young princess. Living as the…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – Remember Me, and Legacy

Captain’s log: stardate 44161.2 Gates McFadden gets a long overdue Crusher-centric episode that was written by Lee Sheldon. This episode first aired on 22 October, 1990. The Enterprise arrives at Starbase 133, where Dr. Crusher meets up with an old friend, who is catching a ride home with them. Unfortunately, he disappears, and seemingly has…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – Brothers, and Suddenly Human

Captain’s log: stardate 44085.7 The theme of family which runs through this entire season of Next Generation is very prevalent here in this episode that was written by Rick Berman. First airing on 8 October, 1990, this is a very Brent Spiner-heavy episode. A medical emergency necessitates a run to a nearby starbase, however, Data…

Star Trek: Chain of Attack (1987) – Gene DeWeese

Don’t be fooled by the depiction of the Enterprise on the cover, this story is set just after the Original Series, so very definitely still within the setting of the Five Year Mission. It also does something that would later be revisited as a television series, as a Federation starship (in this case the U.S.S….

Doctor Who (Matt Smith) – The Big Bang and, A Christmas Carol

The fifth series of the relaunched Doctor Who comes to a close this week with The Big Bang. Penned by Steven Moffat, this episode is the conclusion of the season long arc featuring the cracks in space-time as well the resolution of the Pandorica cliffhanger from last week. The episode first aired on 26 June,…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1989) – The Enemy, and The Price

Captain’s log: stardate 43349.2 David Kemper and Michael Piller bring us another strong Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) story with The Enemy. This one first aired on 6 November, 1989, and further cemented Season Three as the season when things really came together. Arriving at the planet Galondancor in response to a distress signal, the…