jonfucius

[jonfucius]

SEENT A SECTION 31

Hoo boy.

Things I liked:

Michelle Yeoh

Kacey Rohl

The concept of the Baraam

Gonna keep my mouth shut about everything else. See it, don’t see it, I’m not your <authority figure>.

[jonfucius]

God, I’m gonna miss the hell out of Lower Decks. That was a perfect finale that also kept the door open for future adventures.

LOWER DECKS! LOWER DECKS! LOWER DECKS! LOWER DECKS!

[jonfucius]

On August 19, 2018, my wife and I watched the seaQuest DSV episode “Whale Song”, as it (at least partially) takes place on that specific date.

Today, we watched the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes “Past Tense, Parts I and II”.

When I saw those episodes back in the late 90s/early 00s, they both seemed so far away. Now, they make me acutely aware of the passage of time, and (in the DS9 episode’s case) how much farther we have to go.

[jonfucius]

Great Star Trek Rewatch - TNG Season 2

Originally posted on Twitter 17 March 2021 - 6 April 2021

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2 is up next in my Great Star Trek Rewatch. As with ENT, DSC, STX, TOS, TAS, TOS FF, and TNG Season 1, mini-reviews will document my progress.

The Child: A reused Phase 2 script gives Troi a unique pregnancy story, though I don’t like the loss of bodily autonomy. Still, it’s hard not to feel a little sad when Ian “dies.” Pulaski is instantly dislikable yet charismatic, a testament to Muldaur’s performance. 7/10

Where Silence Has Lease: I really dig the surreal scenes aboard the pseudo-Yamato, and the philosophical discussion about death later in the episode. The episode swings and hits, but it’s a single. 7/10

Elementary, Dear Data: Everyone loves a period romp, and a it’s Sherlock Holmes romp to boot. Moriarty is a compelling villain, whose motivation mirrors that of Data’s: what does it mean to be human? 8/10

The Outrageous Okona: A romantic farce with the dashing titular character at the center. I can see why Billy Campbell was both a finalist for, and ultimately passed over for, the role of Riker. It would’ve been great to see Whoopi Goldberg and Joe Piscopo trade jokes. Alas. 6/10

Loud As A Whisper: I appreciate the deaf representation, but the denouement leaves something to be desired. I’m fascinated by the idea of Riva’s chorus, however. A grisly scene in an otherwise tame series really drives home the danger into which Riva is going. 7/10

The Schizoid Man: Intriguing concept that is strung out far too long. Props though to the late W. Morgan Sheppard and Susie Plakson, who makes her Trek debut as Dr. Selar. 6/10

Unnatural Selection: This one hits a little differently in a post-COVID world. I don’t care for rapid aging stories, however. I do appreciate the somber tone at the end, with Pulaski’s voiceover paying tribute to the Lantree’s crew. 6/10

A Matter of Honor: I love this episode. It’s top-notch from the top down. Riker’s sojourn aboard a Klingon ship gives us some much-needed insight into the franchise’s most iconic aliens. Klag is one of my favorite guest characters. 10/10

The Measure of a Man: Another standout episode from this season that shows just how high Star Trek can go when it wants to. If you have access to the TNG Blu-rays, make sure to watch the reconstructed extended edition as well. 10/10

The Dauphin: After two standout episodes we get a dud. I don’t like the implication that Salia’s worth as an individual was directly tied to her appearance. 4/10

Contagion: The episode does a ton of worldbuilding without being tiresome. The stakes are high, with the destruction of the Yamato (RIP Capt Varley) and the Romulans investigating. The gag of Picard appearing on the warbird’s bridge, and his parting shot, is a great capper. 8/10

The Royale: The surreal style is reminiscent of “Spectre of the Gun,” but I still think that entry is the stronger of the two. Still, it’s a decent, off-beat entry that has somewhat disappeared from the franchise. 6/10

Time Squared: A small time jump sets this one apart from most time travel stories. The knowledge that this could have led into “Q Who?” is a bummer, since the anomaly ended up being pointless. Nice callback to “We’ll Always Have Paris,” and foreshadowing of the next episode. 7/10

The Icarus Factor: I wish Worf’s B-story and Riker’s A-story could have been swapped, because the former is far more compelling and less repetitive. 6/10

Pen Pals: The debate about the Prime Directive is meaty and well worth watching, which grows organically from Data’s communications with Sarjenka; the conclusion to Wesley’s subplot also easily melds with the main storyline. 7/10

Q Who?: In a petulant fit, Q tosses our heroes into the path of the enigmatic Borg. Great things have small beginnings, indeed. The Borg’s horrific relentlessness is on display here. 9/10

Samaritan Snare: The Pakled are a swing and a miss. I love Picard’s scenes with Wesley, however. And I don’t fully buy Picard’s sudden vain streak. 5/10

Up the Long Ladder: Hoo boy the Irish stereotypes. The pro-choice message gets a little lost in the shuffle, as well. 5/10

Manhunt: Lwaxana Troi haters can back off; she’s a delightful change of pace. Worf’s admiration of the Antedeans always cracks me up. 7/10

The Emissary: K'Ehleyr is one of the greatest Klingon characters ever written or performed, and her chemistry with Worf is off the scales. The Klingon sleeper ship concept is intriguing, and shows how much the galaxy has changed in the decades between TOS and TNG. 8/10

Peak Performance: This is just a fun, plot-driven action piece. Wesley's sneaky antimatter gambit, Riker's glee in playing pirate against the Enterprise, and the fooling of the Ferengi make for a fun outing. Guile, indeed. If only the season had ended here. 9/10

Shades of Gray: The use of barely-relevant scenes from previous outings makes the clip-show nature of this one stand out even more. I'm giving it a generous 3 points for the three days it took to film the "new" material, which is actually not horrible. 3/10

And with that, TNG Season 2 comes to an end in my Great Star Trek Rewatch. Final score: 6.86/10. Highest score(s): “A Matter of Honor,” “The Measure of a Man.” Lowest score(s): “Shades of Gray.”

[jonfucius]

[jonfucius]

Star Trek Discovery

So many memories.

[jonfucius]

Some spoiler-iffic thoughts on Star Trek: Discovery’s finale

Michael Burnham has one of the most profound character arcs in Star Trek history. In fact, I’d put her story next to Benjamin Sisko’s arc, right at the top.

Seeing Michael go from the literal bottom (alone and in prison, blamed for a war she didn’t start)…

…to the top (a four-pip admiral with a devoted husband and a loving son) is just…

I love how her story ended. I shed more than a few tears seeing her embrace Book and Leto.

I’m going to miss the hell out of this show🖖

[jonfucius]

I’m old enough to remember the fanfare TNG, DS9, and VOY got for their finales. It’s a damn shame Discovery hasn’t been getting the same hype. This is the flagship show that made people give a damn about CBS All Access (and let’s be honest, it still would be called that if it weren’t for Star Trek).

[jonfucius]

SEENT A DISCO (S5E8)

Can Mrs. Jonfucius and I live in the Eternal Gallery?

Brilliant examination of Burnham, an excellent Lady Macbeth from Moll, and a VFX scene that was straight out of #BSG.

I don’t want this special series to end, but I am locked in for the finale.

[jonfucius]

Some Thoughts on Disco

Let me preface this by saying that I have adored Star Trek Discovery since September 24, 2017.

I have not been this invested in a season of Discovery since season 2. That doesn’t mean I haven’t enjoyed the other seasons, but I haven’t connected with a season of Discovery since that seminal season like I have with the current and (lamentably, regrettably) final season.

I loved the 32nd century world building of season 3; meeting Gray and Adira; the wonderful Aditya Sahil and his long watch. But…I was less enamored with the Emerald Chain story, and while I found Su’kal’s trauma poignant and heartbreaking, I really didn’t connect with the Burn as a season-long mystery box.

I was also really rankled by season 4’s constant questioning and undermining of Burnham’s place in the center seat. I liked the 10-C, and again, appreciated Tarka and Book’s traumas, but I was left cold by the mystery box once more.

This season? GIVE ME MORE DS9 DEEP CUTS. GIVE ME MORE MOLL AND (sadly RIP) L’AK. GIVE ME MORE PROGENITORS LORE. INJECT IT DIRECTLY INTO MY CAROTID.

[jonfucius]

God I’m so glad Disco is back. I’ve missed those beautiful people on my screen.

Still gutted that this is their last rodeo, but it looks like they’re going out on top.

[jonfucius]

Great Star Trek Rewatch - TNG Season 1

Originally posted on Twitter 17 March 2021 - 6 April 2021

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 1 is up next in my Great Star Trek Rewatch. As with ENT, DSC, STX, TOS, TAS, and TOS FF, mini-reviews will document my progress.

Encounter at Farpoint: TNG's pilot is the weakest of the various series premieres. Saving graces are John DeLancie's fully-formed Q, the McCoy cameo, the visual effects, Patrick Stewart's commanding performance, and the greatest tag line: Let's see what's out there, indeed. 5/10

The Naked Now: This episode would have worked better once we knew our heroes a little better (perhaps after "The Arsenal of Freedom"). Since we're still getting to know them, this rehash of a superior TOS episode is flat on arrival. Fully functional, it ain't. 4/10

Code of Honor: It's a racist piece of dogshit. Next. 0/10

The Last Outpost: Man, these Ferengi that allegedly eat their enemies must be as bad the Klingons or the Romulans! Uh, no. They're bad, but not in the way we've been expecting. The T'Kon Empire is worthy of follow-up. 5/10

Where No One Has Gone Before: TNG’s first great episode. Reality powered by thought is a classic Trek idea. Kosinski and the Traveler are excellent guest characters. I’m not the biggest Wesley fan but I cheer every time he calls out Riker. 8/10

Lonely Among Us: There’s just not enough story here to sustain an entire episode. Also, justice for Engineer Singh, reduced to a wig on a chair in one scene. The Antican and Selay makeup, however, are very well done. 5/10

Justice: 90% of this episode is hot garbage. The remaining 10% goes to Picard’s speech about absolute justice (something governments still struggle with), and Crusher’s grief over losing her son. If the Edo really were this primitive, would Picard have stopped there at all? 3/10

The Battle: Wesley’s smugness (and the weak writing for Crusher and Troi) drags the score down a bit, but this is a fairly good first season effort. Learning more about the otherwise enigmatic Picard through a Ferengi’s quest for revenge works. 8/10

Hide and Q: Q’s return so soon after the pilot tries to do something interesting, but it’s not an engaging story. 6/10

Haven: Lwaxana Troi is a love her or hate her character, and I adore her. Wyatt’s chemistry with Troi makes him a believable rival with Riker for Troi’s affections. The Tarellian ship is a striking design. 7/10

The Big Goodbye: While this episode is responsible (for better or worse) for holodeck malfunction stories, this one has a reasonable amount of tension. The reaction to Whalen’s shooting is an excellent in-universe touch. Redblock is effortlessly malevolent. 8/10

Datalore: I would imagine this was the first time people really took notice of just how damn good Brent Spiner is. Evil twin plots aren’t new to Trek, but this is a good one. Glad to see both villains again at later dates. 7/10

Angel One: It’s a sexist piece of shit. Next. 0/10

11001001: The visuals are striking, as are the Bynars. The holodeck scenes with Picard, Riker, and Minuet are worth the price of admission. A solid mid-season installment. 7/10

Too Short a Season: Fountain of Youth episodes are corny at best. A combination of makeup and casting dooms this one from the start. The Iran-Contra parallels come through loud and clear. 4/10

When the Bough Breaks: The Aldeans' plight is sympathetic. I just get the feeling that there's not enough plot to sustain an entire episode each time I watch this one. It's not objectionable but it's not oustanding, either. It just is. 5/10

Home Soil: Some very subtle commentary on the ravages of colonization gets lost in the "ugly bags of mostly water" scene at the very end. Malencon's death is somewhat gruesome for Trek (at least until the airing of the season finale). 6/10

Coming of Age: An excellent first season effort, with Wesley's exam and Remmick's investigation serving as the impetus for the title. Will we see Quinn and Remmick again? Time will tell. 8/10

Heart of Glory: A strong Klingon episode that sows the seeds for RDM’s sublime “Sins of the Father”. All killer no filler. 8/10

The Arsenal of Freedom: Confining this episode to a soundstage limits the scope and stakes of this one, but I do enjoy Crusher and Picard’s scenes. I especially love the Lower Deckers on the bridge. Some good commentary on the military-industrial complex here. 7/10

Symbiosis: Did Nancy Reagan write this stinker? A bummer that this was one of Merritt Butrick’s final roles before his too-early death from AIDS. It could’ve been a great one, but it’s just mediocre. 5/10

Skin of Evil: The first time a series regular dies…for good. The behind-the-scenes tales are legendary, but aside from the goofy oil slick monster, Yar’s senseless death (randomly, in the line of duty) and touching funeral elevates this episode. 7/10

We’ll Always Have Paris: I don’t know why, but this one works for me. I like the sense of isolation as our heroes track down Manheim; and the time distortions are fun, even if the science doesn’t make sense. 7/10

Conspiracy: This episode's shocking climax still hits hard over thirty years later. The unnerving feel of the episode kicks in from the jump and is sustained through to the chilling tag. A shame that this wasn't followed up in live-action. 8/10

The Neutral Zone: The return of the Romulans is dramatic, but the best scenes for me are in the 5th act and the tag. Picard's speech to the refugees is an inspiring summation of Star Trek, and even after an uneven season, it's hard not to be energized for what's to come. 8/10

And with that, TNG Season 1 comes to an end in my Great Star Trek Rewatch. Final score: 5.84/10. Highest score(s): “WNOHGB,” “The Battle,” “The Big Goodbye,” “Coming of Age,” “Heart of Glory,” “Conspiracy,” “The Neutral Zone.” Lowest score(s): “Code of Honor,” “Angel One.”

[jonfucius]

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and Odyssey might just be the two best games in the franchise. They’re the two I find endlessly replayable, at any rate.

[jonfucius]

Great Star Trek Rewatch - TOS Feature Films

Originally posted on Twitter 12-19 January 2021

Star Trek: The Original Series Feature Films are up next in my Great Star Trek Rewatch. As with ENT, DSC, STX, TOS, and TAS, mini-reviews will document my progress.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture: A quintessential Star Trek/Roddenberry story, V’Ger’s quest for the Creator recalls Nomad from “The Changeling.” The visual effects, score, and direction are top-flight, especially given its troubled production. 7/10

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: Often cited as the best film, it is certainly a classic of Star Trek and science fiction cinema. Ricardo Montalban’s Khan has yet to be bested. James Horner’s score is excellent, often quoted in the sequel. 9/10

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock: Melancholy is the overall tone, until the final few minutes. Not as strong as the preceding or succeeding films, this is still an excellent TOS story. Kruge is an underrated villain. Stealing the Enterprise is a fantastic scene/score. 8/10

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home: The One with the Whales is a fun, lighthearted romp with a timeless environmental message. A crowd pleaser for over 30 years. 9/10

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier: Shatner’s reach exceeds his grasp (and budget), but I’ve yet to see a better portrayal of the core trio’s relationship. The score is excellent; Sybok is charismatic. Sadly, the effects are rough and the supporting crew doesn’t get much to do. 7/10

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country: A poignant and thrilling swan song for the TOS era. The themes of aging and irrelevance first broached in TWOK are fully confronted here. Kirk goes through some major character growth. The perfect cap for Trek's first 25 years. 9/10

And with that, the TOS Feature Films come to an end in my Great Star Trek Rewatch. Final score: 8.17/10. Highest score(s): “Star Trek II,” “Star Trek IV,” “Star Trek VI.” Lowest score(s): “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” “Star Trek V.”

[jonfucius]

USpol

Everything I have learned about Hunter Biden, I have learned (and continue to learn) against my will

[jonfucius]

moopsy

[jonfucius]

While packing for our move, I stumbled upon an assignment from one of my college psychology courses - I turned in one of my #StarTrek fanfics and got 100/100 for it.

So yes, fanfic is a worthwhile endeavor.

And before anyone asks - no, I will not be sharing. Its cringe levels are off the scales.