To Boldly go.....to the internet - Star Trek Discovery

I recently finished watching season one of Star Trek Discovery and thought I would share a few thoughts I had about it without giving too much away!

Die-hard original series fans might not find it enjoyable, but I did.  Our main character, Michael Burnham, is an orphan who was raised on Vulcan by Spock's parents.  Some fans might have trouble imagining that Sarek and Amanda have an adopted daughter, but I didn't.  Remember when Spock suddenly had a half- brother?  Sometimes you have to rewrite history a little to get a character where you want it to be and since it is a brand new one, it's not so hard to accept. (as opposed to the JJ Abrams disaster with Uhura and Spock being an item, among other wrongful changes - I hated that SO MUCH)

I had a slight issue with changing the appearance of the Klingons yet again. Also, although it was neat to have the Klingons speaking their language, with subtitles for us humans, I had to keep rewinding to read what I missed because I was doing something!

It took a few episodes to figure out where in the timeline this edition falls, which was about 10 years before Kirk and Spock take the Enterprise out to the final frontier.  Christopher Pike is the captain of the Enterprise.

There was very little humor, however, I think that once the characters are well established that could change.  I think viewers need to get to know the quirks and habits of each individual before they can appreciate a humorous comment, so if the show survives more than 2 seasons, maybe we will see some.

One thing that is different is It's more of a continuing story than a different one each episode, like in the former shows.  I liked the story arcs for the most part, though sometimes I was a little confused. Some good twists and not to much gory stuff to see.

Michael Burnham is a complex woman, with Vulcan sensibilities and human vulnerabilities.  We see the story play out through her eyes. Sonequa plays the part very well. The series introduces a new species called Kelpiens, one of which is the First Officer, Saru. It could be interesting to learn more about them. Captain Gabriel Lorca, played by handsome Jason Isaacs - I really wanted to like him, but he just wasn't Captain-y enough for me! (Could it be, I just see Lucius Malfoy no matter how hard I try?)  I definitely need more time to bond with the gang and ferret out my favs.  However, that might not be easy!

Capt. Lorca, Michael Burnham, Saru

The show is only on CBS All access and has a monthly fee, one with commercials and a larger one with no commercials.  I watched season one for free due to a holiday special for one month free viewing.  I really dislike the idea of paying for a streaming service that has commercials when I'm already paying for cable TV (can't get but one station with a digital antenna).  The commercial-free offer is a bit too steep for my fixed income.  What's a gal to do?

Bottom line for me is, I would like to see season two and see if I can learn to love the show like I did the others.  Perhaps once the season is over, I'll try to sign up for a free week and binge it.

One last thing.... I've seen a lot of negative comments about the opening titles for the show, but I LOVE THEM !!

See it here: Star Trek Discovery - Main Title

Poldark, season 3 PBS

It's been awhile!  I figured with Season 4 right around the corner (overseas, anyway) I would post my thoughts Season 3 on PBS.  As usual, it was a very good presentation covering The Black Moon and The Four Swans.

The series opens with Elizabeth on a run-away horse.  Of course Ross saves her from going over the cliff and she does not appreciate it.  George is his usual pompous self, reminding all of us how much we hate him. lol  I got the impression that Lizzie was attempting to abort her baby.

Early on, we are introduced to three new characters -  Demelza's brothers, Sam and Drake and Morwenna, Elizabeth's cousin.  Drake (who is really cute, btw) comes to tell Demelza that her father is dying.  Demelza wants no part of it, but in the end, blood wins out and she goes to his bedside.

Drake, Morwenna, and Sam

Dwight and Caroline are secretly married with Ross and Demelza as witnesses.  Shortly after the ceremony, things are happening over at the Warleggan's.  Elizabeth has 'fallen' down the stairs!  She started having labor pains, pretty much confirming the baby daddy is Ross.  In desperation, to keep George from finding out, she throws herself down the stairs, to make it seem like the labor starts from this.  Dwight is called from his honeymoon bed to help her.  An eclipse of the moon starts as the baby is born. Aunt Agatha says it's a black moon and a bad omen!  Baby Valentine is born, with both mother and baby surviving.  Caroline's Uncle dies under the black moon.  Dwight has to go back to the navy.  Sigh... an unhappy night all round, except for George who believes he has a Warleggan heir.

Drake and Sam start working for Ross, at Delmeza's request.  Sam is a bible-thumper determined to save all the souls in the county.  Drake is not so concerned about that - he meets Morwenna and sparks fly, however Ross has forbidden them to have anything to do with Trenwith and the people who live there!  We learn that Demelza is in the family way again.

Word comes that there has been a skirmish on the seas and rumor has it that not only Dwight's ship went down, but also Captain Blamey's!  Ross takes off to confirm the rumors.  Sam and his followers have the audacity to attend George's church and he does not like it.  He bans them from it, causing even more discord between the two families.  Word comes that The Esmerelda, Cap. Blamey's ship, has put into port and all is well for Verity.  A short while later, Ross gets word that there are hundreds of English prisoners in a convent turned prison in France and he decides to go and see if he can get a list of prisoners.  This is an extremely dangerous mission, nearly costing Ross his life, but he prevails.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch,   Demelza gives Sam a building on Nampara land for his church.  George is made a Magistrate, a position Ross had turned down, and in true fashion, wreaks havoc for the poor offenders.  He's such a dick.  Drake and Morwenna grow closer.

Ross returns and Dwight's name is on the list of the prisoners!  They are all relieved.  George and Elizabeth and Valentine go to London and leave Geoffrey and Aunt Agatha with Morwenna.  I think it is so sad that Elizabeth will not even try to bond with her son, Valentine.  She is having trouble coping with the secret until a doctor gives her some magic powder to calm her nerves. lol  Back in Nampara a baby girl is born - Miss Clowance Poldark.  

The oily and odious Rev.Whitworth is introduced - he is so well played by Christian Brassington. . George wants to arrange a marriage to Morwenna. Ross, Demelza, and Caroline devise a somewhat dangerous plan to smuggle food for the starving poor people.  Meanwhile, back in France, Dr. Enys is suffering greatly in the horrible French prison.

While Aunt Agatha is planning a 100th birthday party, Ross leaves on a dangerous journey to France to rescue Dwight, along with some of his friends from the mine, including Zacky Martin and Cap't. Henshawe and stowaway, Drake.  It's edge of your seat excitement as they manage to get Dwight and another man, Lt. Armitage to safety.  It is not without casualties though - Drake is injured and Captain Henshawe is killed.

Drake is nearly caught pranking George with toads. Poor Morwenna is forced to marry the horney Reverend.

Luke Norris does an outstanding performance as Dr. Enys struggles with what we now call PTSD.  Poor Caroline doesn't understand; Ross tells her be patient and enlists the help of Lt. Armitage.   There is a lovely, tender scene with Carolyn and Dwight sitting in the garden, where he tries to tell her why he is not himself.

Dwight and Caroline

Morwenna is living a miserable life with Rev.Whitworth.  He arranges for her sister to come and stay with them.  Lt. Armitage starts paying special attention to Demelza.  She in turn starts falling for his charms.

George essentially kills Aunt Agatha when he tells her she is not 100 and there will be no party.  She plants doubts about Valentine's parentage before she dies, setting the stage for a lot of heartache to come.  Ross is furious when he finds out George orders a paupers burial with no headstone. He digs her grave and vows George will pay. Later, he runs into Elizabeth at the church and has a heartfelt conversation about their relationship, what happened the night of his infidelity, and the baby.  He kisses her several times, more as a goodbye than an "I want you", however Prudie sees them.

Armitage is really putting the moves on Demelza and she is falling for it hook, line, and sinker.  Through this whole series, Demelza has voiced her feelings that Ross can do whatever he wants, so why can't she? I think this is meant to give the viewers some insight as to why she finally gives in to Armitage  Prudie tells her about seeing Ross kiss Elizabeth at the graveyard and I think that is a turning point for her.

Ross becomes acutely aware of her feelings for the lieutenant when she sings at a party and only has eyes for him.  It was really heartbreaking to watch that scene.  I could really feel his pain when he spoke with Demelza of it later on that same evening.  Demelza tells Ross she will look at him like that again and to be patient with her as she has been with him.

Ross, watching Demelza sing to Armitage

Dr. Enys orders Reverend Ozzie to refrain from relations with Morwenna until she has time to heal from her difficult birthing.  He turns to her sister for 'comfort' who turns on him telling him she's pregnant with his child and cons him into giving her money so she can marry a librarian who will make an honest woman of her, as the saying goes.  Old horn-dog goes to Morwenna and says she must resume her wifely duties.  She says no and threatens to kill their baby if he touches her.

Lizzie reads George the riot act for allowing his suspicions to ruin their marriage and happy home.  She swears on the bible that she has never given herself to any man except her first husband and him -  he is doubtful, so she then tells him she's leaving him.  George loses it and swears he will never question her faithfulness again and begs her forgiveness, which she gives to him.   Meanwhile, Ross has this epiphany during a confrontation with Tholley and decides if he's asked again to stand for public office, he will not refuse.

A disquieting ending as Demelza returns home after her affair with Armitage. They both look so sad! They embrace, but it is not a hopeful one.

A long post, but dang, a lot happened this season!!  I'm looking forward to season 4, which will probably get here sometime in the fall. 

Confessions of a TV junkie....

I admit it.  I'm a TV junkie.  Having grown up with television as part of daily life, it's no surprise.  I don't remember when my parents got a TV, but I do remember sitting in front of one every Saturday morning, bowl of cereal in hand, watching Rin Tin Tin, Sky King, Ramar of the Jungle, Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, The Little Rascals, and The Three Stooges - not to mention all the cartoon shows and local heroes like Johnny Ginger, Jingles, Poop-deck Paul and my favorite, Soupy Sales, who were on every day after school.

Poopdeck Paul, Milky the Clown, Captain Jolly, Jingles, Johnny Ginger, and Bozo

As the years went by, and I was allowed to stay up for some night time TV, it was all about the cowboys - Cheyenne, Sugarfoot, and Bronco Lane were my favorites - possibly my first celeb crush was Ty Hardin as Bronco Lane...or maybe Fess Parker as Davey Crockett.

Ty Hardin and Fess Parker

 Then the teen/pre-teen years of Dr. Kildare, Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin, and Captain Kirk at the top of the list.  

Richard Chamberlain, David McCallum, Robert Vaughn, Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner

As I matured (somewhat anyway) and settled into marriage and motherhood, the TV obsessions kind of took a back seat, but never completely left as they lay in wait for me to have the freedom to indulge again. lol

Fast forward to recent years - me, a retired little old lady and what happens?  POLDARK.  Holy moley, that show awoke the kraaken!  I mean, I've always had my list of current favorites, with Sean Bean at the top for a long time (the Sharpe series reeled me in), but the Aidan Turner obsession was one to behold.  I put that past tense because, though he's still numero uno, I'm no longer watching him practically non-stop like I was with Being Human, The Hobbit, Poldark and anything else I could get my eyes on with him in it.

Which leads me to the reason I started this post - my latest obsession:

OMG.  I love this show so much! I have a post on this blog from when Lucifer first aired saying I think I will like this show.  However, it was on at the same time as another favorite show and with no DVR or Hulu, it was somewhat forgotten.  I'm a fan of Tom Ellis from his Miranda days, when he played Gary, so about a week ago, while browsing Hulu (thank you Alex) I found all 3 seasons, up to the current episode available and starting binging.  Now, I'm driving my sister/roommate crazy with Tom Ellis this and Lucifer that.

This show has everything I love about a TV show.  Good writing and good casting with well-defined characters that you come to know and love.  Lucifer has left hell and moved to Los Angeles where he falls in with a police detective and helps to solve crimes in his own unique way.  It's very much like Castle in the early years with a strong supporting cast that becomes like family to the viewer.  The dialogue is witty and the acting top-notch.  Tom Ellis says so much with a single look.  I can't get enough of him. Like Castle and Beckett, his relationship with Chloe Decker is intense and at the same time fun.  You can tell by the number of you tube videos that a lot of other people feel the same way I do about the show.

It will be interesting to see where the writers take the story.  I sincerely hope they don't ruin it by putting Lucifer and Chloe together as a couple with engagement or marriage as a goal.  That's what led to the demise of  Moonlighting and Castle as far as I'm concerned.  They need to keep their relationship like Sam and Jack on Stargate - ever present, obviously in love, but not ever saying I Love You out loud to each other,(except in dreams, aternate universes and such - lol).  Also the writers need to never forget the importance of the supporting characters in Luci's life - Mazikeen, Trixie, Ella, Dan, Charlotte, Amenadial, and Dr. Linda.  Remember on Castle, when after they got engaged and she went to the FBI and Esposito, Ryan, Lani, Martha and Alexis were hardly seen??  I hated that season so much and almost quit watching.  At any rate, if you loved Castle, you will most likely love this show too.

My favorite episode is in season one A Priest Walks into a Bar - I just love the piano duet with the priest and the one at the end with Chloe.  I love that it shows Lucifer, who is definitely a fish out of water in his human form, coming to grips with the fact that despite the polar opposite of devil and priest, he finds he really cares about Father Frank in a way he never knew he could.  It also brings him closer to Chloe who teaches him the value of friends in a time of need.  My other favorite episodes have scenes with Trixie, Chloe's Adorable-with-a-capital-A daughter and Maize, the demon who escaped hell with Lucifer and is his bodyguard of sorts.

There's a lot of videos on You Tube if you want to see what it's about.  Just search 'Lucifer or Tom Ellis'.

Aimee Garcia (Ella), Keven Alejandro (Dan), Lauren German (Chloe), Tom Ellis,(Lucifer), Tricia Helfer (Charlotte), Leslie-Ann Brandt (Mazikeen),  D.B. Woodside (Amenadial), Rachel Harris (Dr. Linda), Scarlett Estevez (Trixie)

And for your viewing pleasure: 

Lucifer and Father Frank piano duel