Category Archives: TV Reviews

Lost – Season 2 (TVR00019) – 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪

The PolyBlog
November 12 2020

Overview

Overall, I would say that there are a lot of simultaneous storylines going on in the season, and not all of them work. A few — like looking for Michael — go nowhere. It is almost like the writers sent people out looking, only to change their minds about where the narrative was going to go. Others were just dead ends. The hatch is interesting, but it takes a LONG time for anything with it to really develop. And I find it really hard to believe everyone knows about the hatch and all of them don’t immediately want to go there or move down there? Even during torrential rain? Mind-boggling.

Episodes That I Liked

Two episodes were excellent — E13 where someone tries to take Sun hostage, or at least make it appear so, but Sawyer notes that it is a con, and he shows what a real con looks like in flashbacks. Meanwhile, the season finale is again excellent with the hatch imploding and Jack, Sawyer and Kate getting captured by Ben.

I rated another nine episodes as 4/5 — Jack and John debating what to do about the hatch (E01); the rafters trying to regroup and we meet Desmond again (E02); an abbreviated history of the tail section passengers (E07); revelations of Kate’s REAL backstory (E09); Charlie and Eko fighting over things related to heroin (E10); Barnard trying to build hope (E20); Michael having a really bad day but Ana Lucia and Libby pay the price (E20); and the first part of the season finale with Desmond showing up on a boat (E23).

Episodes That Were Watchable

I rated twelve episodes as 3/5, and that will be the rating for the season too…we see some of how the other passengers fared (E03); Hugo struggling with the secrets (E04); how Jin and Sun met (E05); bringing all the passengers back together (E06); Ana Lucia’s history (E08); a group pointlessly looking for Michael (E11); Benjamin coming for a visit (E14); Claire’s memory returning slowly (E15); Ben and Sun sharing partial truths with people (E16); Hugo and Libby starting to date (E18); Eko finding another observing station (E21); and Michael’s instructions to follow in order to save Walt (E22).

Episodes That I Didn’t Like

Two other episodes were a bit disappointing, and I only rated them 2/5…Charlie worrying about the baby but it’s never quite clear why (E12) and Locke failing to make choices between Helen and his father (E17).

List of Episodes from Season 2

EP #EPISODEREVIEWRATING
S02E01Man of Science, Man of FaithThe hatch is open but Jack and John disagree on a question of faith, brother🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S02E02AdriftThe rafters try to regroup, Michael tells his story, and Desmond meets the team in another life, brother🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S02E03OrientationThe training video doesn’t cover getting captured by other passengers🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E04Everybody Hates HugoHugo carries the weight of the world before the island and after🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E05…And FoundJin and Sun meet by happenstance🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E06AbandonedThe sections of the plane reunite, and it doesn’t end well for Shannon🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E07The Other 48 DaysThe other passengers didn’t fare as well🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S02E08CollisionAna Lucia’s history leads to a key moment🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E09What Kate DidKate made a decision long ago🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S02E10The 23rd PsalmCharlie and Eko’s life intersects over heroin🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S02E11The Hunting PartyA group goes looking for Michael without help🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E12Fire + WaterCharlie is worried about the baby🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪
S02E13The Long ConSomeone tries to take Sun but they get the details wrong🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
S02E14One of ThemBenjamin comes for a visit🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E15Maternity LeaveClaire remembers her time with the Others and goes looking for medicine🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E16The Whole TruthBen shares some details with Ana Lucia, and Sun shares some with Jin🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E17LockdownLocke wouldn’t choose between Helen or his father but Ben chooses to save and help🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪
S02E18DaveHugo and Libby hit it off, but Dave doesn’t want Hugo to get better🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E19S.O.S.Barnard feels the need to build some hope and Jack feels the need to negotiate🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S02E20Two for the RoadAna Lucia has an itch for Sawyer’s gun, but Michael is the one doing the shooting🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S02E21?Eko finds a Pearl observing station🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E22Three MinutesThe Others have / had a plan for Michael to save Walt🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E23Live Together, Die Alone Pt 1Desmond’s back on a boat…and Michael has a list🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S02E24Live Together, Die Alone Pt 2The hatch is imploding while Jack, Sawyer and Kate go visit Ben🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸

The Bottom Line

A lot of storylines going on and not all of them work

Lost – Season 1 (TVR00018) – 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪

The PolyBlog
November 12 2020

Overview

When Lost first premiered, I watched about three episodes. It was okay, I thought the beasts were some sort of horror premise, and then about EP03, the shallow relationship of Michael with his son, and his apparent jealousy of Locke, was just ridiculous and stupid. I didn’t care, and I couldn’t figure out why anyone else did, so I stopped watching. I recently decided to give it a go because of its historical success, more to see how they maintained interest than with much expectation to enjoy it. It wasn’t until about episode 9 or 10 that I started to enjoy watching the aftermath of the crash, learning to live on an island, scavenging the luggage, the competition over how best to lead the group, and the flashbacks that got them there. Given the focus on about 15 of the cast, it’s often hard to believe there were supposedly 48 survivors.

Episodes That I Liked

My favourite episode of the season was the finale, with Locke confronting the beast and seeing it in all its glory, and the rafters trying to get away from the island (E25). I rated another twelve episodes as 4/5, with a large gap after EPs 01 (crashing) & 02 (trying to phone home) all the way to EP 09 (and meeting another island inhabitant, Danielle Rousseau). After that, there are all the “let’s give this character a backstory” episodes for Claire and the baby (E10); Ethan being creepy (E11); Boone and his too-close relationship with his sister Shannon (E13); Michael being a father (E14); Sun and Jin’s language barrier (E17); Locke and Boone (E19); Boone’s exit and Locke sees a light (E20); Shannon’s desire for vengeance (E21); and more of the story of explosives for the hatch (E24) and rafters.

Episodes That Were Watchable

I rated eleven episodes as only 3/5, and it’s mostly because while there were some good parts in just about every one of them, they were individually quite inconsistent. It was interesting seeing the survivors realize that a quick rescue isn’t coming so they need to clean up the bodies (E04); the dangers of water (E05); disagreement on sleeping on the beach or in a cave (E06); cave collapses (E07); Sawyer’s a terrible human being, we all agree (E08); a locked case (E12); Claire’s return from the Others (E15); the backstory on Kate and Sawyer (E16); the explanation of the magical numbers (E18); sabotage within the camp (E22); and the first “panic” that the Others are coming (E23), even if they’re not.

Episodes That I Didn’t Like

I mentioned above that when I first watched the show, I gave up after Episode 03, it was shallow and superficial, and a cross between a potential horror film with barely seen monsters or a soap opera. Michael being jealous of Locke’s relationship with Walt was the soap opera extreme and I bailed. It’s the worst episode of the season.

List of Episodes from Season 1

EP #EPISODEREVIEWRATING
S01E01Pilot Pt 1Shouldn’t the Skipper or Gilligan meet them?🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S01E02Pilot Pt 2Hey, if E.T. can phone home, why can’t we?🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S01E03Tabula RasaOh, Michael is jealous of Locke and Walt? Get over it.🐸⚪⚪⚪⚪
S01E04WalkaboutOkay, it’s time to clean up the bodies🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S01E05White RabbitWater can save you or water can kill you🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S01E06House of the Rising SunBeach camping vs. cave camping🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S01E07The MothCave collapse? Let’s send in the biggest and smallest guys🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S01E08Confidence ManSawyer’s a douche, but is he a medicine-hoarding douche?🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S01E09SolitaryThe French have always been snobbish to outsiders🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S01E10Raised by AnotherClaire’s having baby and sleep issues🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S01E11All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy IssuesEthan’s always been creepy, I would suspect him first too🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S01E12Whatever the Case May BeOooh, a locked case, how exciting!🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S01E13Hearts and MindYeah, Boone and Shannon are a little creepy too🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S01E14SpecialFatherhood is hard for Michael🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S01E15HomecomingClaire’s back from her doctor’s appointment with no memory and everybody’s playing defense🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S01E16OutlawsKate was a fugitive and Sawyer is imitating his nemesis🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S01E17…In TranslationWait…you speak English?🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S01E18NumbersThe numbers are driving Hugo a bit nutty, so maybe Danielle can help🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S01E19Deus Ex MachinaLocke and Boone hunt for a plane and it doesn’t end well🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S01E20Do No HarmBoone’s hurt and Locke’s responsible enough that he finally sees the light🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S01E21The Greater GoodShannon wants vengeance but Sayid isn’t willing to provide it🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S01E22Born To RunThe first raft is burned and then Michael is poisoned? Sabotage!🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S01E23Exodus Pt 1The Others are coming, the Others are coming🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S01E24Exodus Pt 2Hitting a log on the open sea or explosives for the hatch? Riveting🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S01E25Exodus Pt 3The beast wants Locke, pirates want the rafters🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸

The Bottom Line

Slow middle episodes take a while to grab hold of you

Star Trek: Enterprise – Season 4 (TVR00017) – 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪

The PolyBlog
November 11 2020

Overview

Star Trek – Enterprise

This is the best of the four seasons, as the show found its footing just in time to be cancelled. I really enjoyed the season, and while I wouldn’t say the Riker storyline from the finale was my favourite, it was still well done. A great season overall, back to regular trek storylines and getting to know different species better.

Episodes That I Liked

There were seven separate episodes that I rated 5/5, which suggests a really good season, right? Well, yes and no. First, the “yes” side. Three episodes dealt with the Vulcans (E07, 08, and 09) with an Embassy bombing, mind-melds, and ancient artifacts. A little uneven within an episode, but a great trio together. Episodes 13, 14, and 17 dealt with Romulans, Andorians, and the Orion Syndicate quite well — good, solid episodes. And then EP21, setting up the series finale with saving “Terra Prime” to save “Starfleet” was again, quite good.

I rated ten more episodes as 4/5, with alt-history time travel to WWI (E01 and 02), and time on Earth (E03). Episodes 05 and 06 focused on Augments, episodes 12/13/15 focused on Andorians and Klingons. We had the mandatory alt-universe visit for E18 that started off strong and then fizzled. And, of course, the finale, which was “okay”, but I wasn’t a big fan of the story trick of having Riker watch everything as if it was a holodeck recreation.

Episodes That Were Watchable

Despite a strong season, three were only rated 3/5, with one about transporter beam stuff (E10), genetically modified humans (E04) that turned into the Augments in E05-06, and aliens observing humans under stress (E11).

Episodes That I Didn’t Like

I already mentioned above that the alt-universe storyline fizzled? Yep, E19 was a total snoozer. So, too, was E20 about Xenophobes on the moon around Earth. Yawn.

List of Episodes from Season 4

S04E01Storm Front Pt 1Alt History 101 – Change WWII🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S04E02Storm Front Pt 2Chickens, eggs, and time travel🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S04E03HomeYou can’t go home again🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S04E04BorderlandGM humans attack a Klingon ship🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S04E05Cold Station 12Augments look for their cousins🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S04E06AugmentsParanoia often befalls the prideful🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S04E07ForgeEmbassy bombing on Vulcan? Illogical🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
S04E08AwakeningA mind-meld hangover is brutal🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
S04E09Kir’SharaAncient relics speak to present day🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
S04E10DaedalusBeam me back from 15 years ago🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S04E11Observer EffectObserving human reactions🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S04E12Babel OneTellerites vs. Andorians…and Romulans?🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S04E13UnitedEven Romulans like drones🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
S04E14AenarTelepathic Andorians…well, that’s new🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
S04E15AfflictionA Klingon virus requires Phlox’s help🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S04E16DivergenceOh, so that’s what happened to ridges🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S04E17BoundOrion Syndicate makes some moves🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
S04E18In A Mirror, Darkly Pt 1Alt universes kick butt🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S04E19In A Mirror, Darkly Pt 2And then I yawned🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪
S04E20DemonsXenophobes on the moon…shocking🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪
S04E21Terra PrimeSave Starfleet, save the Federation🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
S04E22These Are The VoyagesHolodeck for all good things🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪

The Bottom Line

Solid season, the best of the four years…and then it was cancelled.

Star Trek: Enterprise – Season 3 (TVR00016) – 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪

The PolyBlog
November 11 2020

Overview

Star Trek – Enterprise

The third season picks up a bit from the second season low. Whereas Season 2 was mostly depressing, with very few notches in the Enterprise’s “win” column, this season had not only a few more wins but also some allies. Don’t get me wrong, they’re still at war, but they aren’t generally about to die every week just from the Expanse.

Episodes That I Liked

There were four episodes that I rated 5/5 and another seven that I rated 4/4. For the top ones, they were mostly about time travel including dealing with space/time parasites (E08); the Enterprise J (E18); the Enterprise itself (E21); and the conclusion of the general Xindi storyline (E24 – finally!).

For the remaining seven, we learned more about the Xindi species (E01); dealt with an interesting moon (E02); rescued some slave girls (E04); fell in love with a clone (E10); and shouldn’t have trusted monks (E12), marauders (E19) or reptilian Xindi (E23).

Episodes That Were Watchable

I admit that I was a bit surprised to see after the fact that all of the rest of the episodes were rated 3/3, I thought there were a few stinkers in there just because so many of them were blah…but I gave them individually a boost to 3, apparently.

There are some interesting episodes throughout the season including a lot obviously about the Xindi (E07 had frenemies; Westerners in Xindi Space (E09); Xindi are time-travelling too (E11); new alliances (E20)) while they were planning for war (field tests in E13, stings in E14, and Council challenges in E22).

But I think the big difference in the season was that there were some other episodes too that were more classic ‘trek, with biochemistry/devolution (E03); lost Vulcans (E05); telepathic friends (E06); relationship jealousies (E15); and Archer focusing on some eggs (E17). There was also a classic episode where the Doctor had to deal with everyone being asleep for safety reasons (E16).

Episodes That I Didn’t Like

As I said in the previous section, I was surprised to see there were none rated 2/5 or worse. I wasn’t thrilled with everything, but there weren’t any I particularly disliked.

List of Episodes from Season 3

S03E01XindiWhy have one Xindi when you can have 5?🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S03E02AnomalyThat’s no moon!🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S03E03ExtinctionAltered biochemistry or devolution…🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S03E04RajiinRescued slave girls…you can’t trust ’em🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S03E05ImpulseLooking for lost Vulcans in the expanse🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S03E06ExileHoshi makes a telepathic friend🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S03E07ShipmentNot all Xindi are enemies🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S03E08TwilightDang space-time parasites🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
S03E09North StarWestern transplants in Xindi space?🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S03E10SimilitudeGrow a clone, love a clone🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S03E11Carpenter StreetXindik time travellers, great🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S03E12Chosen RealmNever trust a monk🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S03E13Proving GroundField testing the Xindi weapon🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S03E14StrategemStings work on Xindi? Cool🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S03E15HarbingerTrip makes T’Pol jealous🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S03E16Doctor’s OrdersSleepy time for almost everyone🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S03E17HatcheryArcher imprints on some eggs🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S03E18Azati PrimeEven the Enterprise J can’t help🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
S03E19DamageNecessity is the mother of marauders🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S03E20ForgottenA crippled ship and a new alliance🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S03E21E squaredGet by with a little help from yourself🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
S03E22CouncilDiplomacy is not always smooth🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S03E23CountdownReptilians are like effective Klingons🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S03E24Zero HourSave Earth, save the universe🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸

The Bottom Line

Classic trek plus some time travel…what’s not to like?

Star Trek: Enterprise – Season 2 (TVR00015) – 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪

The PolyBlog
October 26 2020

Overview

The second season has hints of temporal stuff throughout, but it starts to get a little grittier with the alien races they encounter. Almost all of them are duplicitous, false friends to the naive and well-being humans.

Episodes That I Liked

The two best episodes of the season are the third and third-last. In EP03, Minefield, the ship is trapped in a Romulan minefield, and Reed has to demonstrate his leadership skills while other ships are closing in. Meanwhile, in EP24, it’s a retrospective episode back to the first ship to break the Warp 2 barrier, and the story of Archer’s chief rival, A.G. Robinson. I rated them both 5/5.

I rated six more EPs as 4/5: EP01 which is the second part of the giant temporal storyline from Season 01’s cliffhanger; EP02 which relates the story of T’Pol’s grandmother having visited Earth years before; EP04 showed that cheap repairs are not always worth their price; EP09 shows weird gravity messing with humans, reminiscent of Naked Now; EP12 has a radioactive storm driving everyone into the center of the ship onto catwalks to survive, despite intruders; and EP16 has another time travel storyline with time machines that have poor timing.

Episodes That Were Watchable

There were a lot of people complaining online about the series in Season 2, and it is not that surprising. I rated twelve episodes, almost half the season as merely good. EP05 showed Phlox’s routine for one night in sickbay; EP06 dealt with bullying marauders; EP07 shows an old job of T’Pol when she worked in security, chasing fugitive Vulcans; EP08 has first contact with a pre-warp civilization, so I guess Bones wasn’t the first to leave his communicator behind; EP10 turns Yoshi into a future Barkley fearful of the transporter; EP11 deals with a stasis pod that everyone wants; EP14 deals with the dangers of mindmelds; EP15 brings Shran back looking for a mediator; EP20 has Travis trying to go home again, without much happiness; EP23 is generously rated 3/5 with time-travelling Borg; EP25 brings bounty hunters looking for Archer; and EP26 introduces the giant storyline for Season 3 which is Earth being attacked by the Xindi for no apparent reason.

Episodes That I Didn’t Like

I really wanted to like some of the six lowest-ranked episodes of the season, all 2/5, but many are pretty derivative. EP13 has Trip bonding with a hostile alien on a planet (Enemy Mine?); EP17 has mutiny on a penal ship (SG1, ST:TOS, ST:TNG, ST:VOY, ST:DS9…?); EP18 has non-corporeal beings wanting to share bodies (ST:TNG?); EP19 has Archer on trial on Cronos (ST:TOS movies?); EP21 has them going spelunking (ST:VOY?); and EP22 deals with gender issues and traditional roles (ST:TNG?). None of the episodes seemed to have anything unique to say.

List of Episodes from Season 2

S02E01Shockwave Pt 2Temporal changes are often sweeping🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S02E02Carbon CreekT’Pol’s great GM visited Earth? Cool🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S02E03MinefieldM-class planet, mines, and Romulans🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
S02E04Dead StopCheap repairs are not always worth it🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S02E05Night in SickbayPorthos becomes a star patient🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E06MaraudersPeople need to fight bullying everywhere🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E07SeventhOoh, T’Pol used to be in security🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E08CommunicatorPre-warp civilizations are touchy🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E09SingularityWeird gravity always messes with humans🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S02E10Vanishing PointYoshi and transporter interruptus🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E11Precious CargoGet up on wrong side of stasis pod?🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E12CatwalkStorms, crawlspaces and intruders…great🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S02E13Dawn80s movie plot — Enemy Mine redux🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪
S02E14StigmaVulcans fear the spread of mindmelds🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E15Cease FireShran wants a mediator, not all agree🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E16Future TenseTime machines have poor timing🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪
S02E17CanamarMutiny on the penal ship🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪
S02E18CrossingNon-corporeal beings want to share bodies🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪
S02E19JudgmentArcher on trial on Cronos? Seems familiar🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪
S02E20HorizonTravis finds you can’t go home again🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E21BreachFly across the galaxy and go spelunking🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪
S02E22CogenitorTrip helps a 3rd gender slave revolt🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪
S02E23RegenerationTime-travelling Borg like to travel🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E24First FlightStory of breaking the Warp 2 barrier🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
S02E25BountyTellerite Boba Fett and Jonathan Solo🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪
S02E26ExpanseXindi attack? Let’s visit Delphic Expanse🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪

The Bottom Line

They have their space legs but not very interesting stories.