Day: May 2, 1983

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1980s Miniseries V

V – Part II

VA widespread backlash against the Visitors has begun, and the Visitors have begun to strike back. Anticipating the need to coerce Donovan into remaining silent, or to lure him to his death, the aliens have kidnapped his young son Sean, and they’ve flattened an entire neighborhood to do it. The Visitors step up their efforts to integrate themselves into human society, and some of their methods have taken on a sinister tone, including the “Visitors’ Friends” youth group. Daniel Bernstein, a troubled teenager, joins up and turns in his own family when his grandfather – a Holocaust survivor – offers shelter to the Maxwells during the worldwide roundup of scientists. Julie Parrish, having narrowly escaped the Visitors herself, begins to assemble an organized resistance. Donovan and Tony’s attempt to rescue some of the humans being rounded up ends in disaster; Tony is killed and Donovan is captured. But once aboard the mothership, he discovers that he’s not on his own – the Visitors have a resistance within their own ranks, a fifth column quietly rising up against the conquest orders of the Visitors’ Supreme Leader, and more specifically against Diana and the pleasure she seems to take in executing those orders. The leader of the Visitors’ resistance, Martin, smuggles Donovan back to Earth, where a chance encounter brings Donovan into contact with Julie and the resistance. But just as there are traitors among the Visitors, the resistance has also been betrayed from within.

Order the DVDwritten by Kenneth Johnson
directed by Kenneth Johnson
music by Joe Harnell

Cast: Marc Singer (Mike Donovan), Faye Grant (Dr. Julie Parrish), Jane Badler (Diana), Michael Durrell (Robert Maxwell), Michael Wright (Elias Taylor), Blair Tefkin (Robin Maxwell), Neva Patterson (Eleanor Dupres), David Packer (Daniel Bernstein), Tommy Peterson (John Brooks), Peter Nelson (Brian), Bonnie Bartlett (Lynn Bernstein), Leonardo Cimino (Abraham Bernstein), Richard Herd (John), Evan Kim (Tony), Richard Lawson (Dr. Benjamin Taylor), George Morfogen (Stanley Bernstein), Andrew Prine (Steven), Hansford Rowe (Arthur Dupres), Jenny Sullivan (Kristine Walsh), Penelope Windust (Kathleen Maxwell), Michael Alldredge (Bill Graham), Camila Ashland (Ruby Engels), Frank Ashmore (Martin), Jason Bernard (Caleb Taylor), Michael Bond (role unknown), Rafael Campos (Sancho Gomez), Diane Civita (Harmony Moore), Viveka Davis (Polly Maxwell), Robert Englund (Willie), Ron Hajak (Denny), Mary-Alan Hokanson (Ruth Barnes), David Hooks (Dr. Metz), Joanna Kerns (Margie Donovan), Jenny Neumann (Barbara), William Russ (Brad), Michael Swan (Bob Briggs), Stephanie Faulkner (Assistant Director), Tom Fuccello (Burke), Wiley Harker (Secretary General of the U.N.), Dick Harwood (Director), Myron Healey (Arch Quinton), Bonnie Johns (role unknown), Eric Johnston (Sean Donovan), Curt Lowens (Dr. Maurice Jankowski), Marin May (Katie Maxwell), Mike Monahan (role unknown), Jennifer Perito (Resistance Member), Clete Roberts (Newscaster), Nathan Roberts (himself), Howard K. Smith (himself), Robert Vandenberg (Rebel Camp Leader), Momo Yashima (role unknown)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Categories
Season 01 Star Trek The Next Generation

We’ll Always Have Paris

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 41697.9: Picard and the crew investigate the source of distortions in time that are being felt across the galaxy and discover the ailing temporal scientist Dr. Manheim’s experiments have malfunctioned, sending his consciousness into an alternate dimension and leaving his body to die in Dr. Crusher’s sick bay, while his wife turns out to be the girl Picard left behind to join Starfleet.

Order the DVDswritten by Deborah Dean Davis and Hannah Louise Shearer
directed by Robert Becker
music by Ron Jones

Guest Cast: Michelle Phillips (Janice Manheim), Rod Loomis (Dr. Paul Manheim), Isabel Lorca (Gabrielle), Dan Kern (Lt. Dean), Jean-Paul Vignon (Edourd), Kelly Ashmore (Francine), Lance Spellerberg (Transporter Chief)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Season 07 Star Trek The Next Generation

Bloodlines

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 47829.1: Picard receives a threat from his old Ferengi adversary DaiMon Bok, who still blames Picard for the death of his son in the first encounter between the Federation and the Ferengi. Bok announces his intent to kill Jason Vigo to avenge his loss, and the threat disturbs Picard. After tracking Jason down, Picard is stunned when genetic tests confirm that Jason is the son of Picard and a woman from his past. Jason turns out to be a rebellious young man with a record of misdemeanors involving theft and trespassing and a passion for rock climbing. Bok continues to mysteriously get through the Enterprise’s defenses to threaten Jason’s life, until he finally kidnaps Jason and has his opportunity for vengeance.

Order the DVDswritten by Nicholas Sagan
directed by Les Landau
music by Dennis McCarthy

Guest Cast: Lee Arenberg (DaiMon Bok), Ken Olandt (Jason), Peter Slutsker (DaiMon Birta), Amy Pietz (Lt. Rhodes), Michelan Sisti (Tol), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Deep Space Nine Season 02 Star Trek

The Wire

Star Trek: Deep Space NineStardate not given: During a lunchtime disagreement with Bashir over the relative merits of Cardassian literature, Garak begins to loose his plain, simple demeanor and concerns Bashir immensely. Garak finally collapses, and Bashir discovers the source of the mysterious Cardassian’s ailment – some kind of implant is connected to his brain. Quark, having been contacted by Garak to acquire something related to his problem, stumbles across the party responsible for the implant – Cardassia’s Obsidian Order, a feared secret police organization which has been known to obtain information by means even darker than the Cardassian military’s interrogators. Bashir risks delving into the mysteries of the Obsidian Order in a race against time to find a cure for Garak – and perhaps to learn some of his secrets.

Order the DVDsDownload this episode via Amazonwritten by Robert Hewitt Wolfe
directed by Kim Friedman
music by Dennis McCarthy

Cast: Avery Brooks (Commander Benjamin Sisko), Rene Auberjonois (Odo), Siddig El Fadil (Dr. Julian Bashir), Terry Farrell (Lt. Jadzia Dax), Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko), Colm Meaney (Chief O’Brien), Armin Shimerman (Quark), Nana Visitor (Major Kira Nerys), Andrew Robinson (Garak), Jimmie F. Skaggs (Glinn Boheeka), Ann Gillespie (Nurse Jabara), Paul Dooley (Enabran Tain)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Categories
Lexx Season 3

Heaven And Hell

LexxHaving returned from his inexplicable reappearance on Water, Kai joins Xev on a mission to Fire to rescue Stanley once and for all. The Lexx has finally regained enough power to leave the twin planets, but Xev is determined not to leave without the ship’s full crew. But there’s just one catch – Stanley Tweedle has died, and his soul has been consigned to Fire. Prince controls his fate. And even if Stanley is reincarnated, as all the other residents of Fire and Water seem to be, he may never again be able to leave.

Order the DVDswritten by Paul Donovan
directed by Paul Donovan
music by Marty Simon

Guest Cast: Nigel Bennett (Prince)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Season 07 Star Trek Voyager

Natural Law

Star Trek: VoyagerStardate not given: A survey mission comes to an unexpected end when a shuttle carrying Chakotay and Seven encounters a powerful energy barrier surrounding a primitive world. The shuttle is nearly destroyed, and Chakotay suffers major injuries on impact. Worse, the barrier prevents any contact with Voyager, so help isn’t on the way. Seven and Chakotay discover that the inhabitants of this world are not only intelligent, but imitative – after first seeing Chakotay, they tattoo themselves in a fashion similar to the first officer’s facial ornamentation. But the primitives’ behavior extends beyond the superficial. Chakotay and Seven worry that they may begin to understand, even duplicate, the technology of Voyager’s shuttle. Seven sets about on a more determined effort to lower the barrier preventing Voyager from finding them. When she succeeds, only to find that someone else has been waiting for the barrier to come down so they can land, it appears that the tainting of the planet’s indigenous people has only just begun.

Order the DVDsteleplay by James Kahn
story by Kenneth Biller & James Kahn
directed by Terry Windell
music by Dennis McCarthy

Guest Cast: Paul Sandman (Healer), Autumn Reeser (Girl), Robert Curtis Brown (Ambassador), Neil Vipond (Kleg), Ivar Brogger (Barus)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Categories
Lost Season 3

The Brig

  • By Dave
  • May 2, 2007

LostFlashback: After seeing his father inside the Others’ compound, Locke relocates with the rest of them. Ben tells Locke of Juliet’s undercover work on the beach camp, and then demands that Locke kill his father in order to finally put his old life behind him. Ben calls it an act of free will and a sign of commitment – but it’s an act that Locke can not bring himself to perform. Ben claims that this means that Locke is not the person the group thought he was. The next day, Richard Alpert confides in Locke that Ben wanted to humiliate Locke, to reduce the threat to his authority. Alpert knows that the only way Locke will be able to do what he is meant to do is for his father to die. So he gives Locke a file that indicates that one of his fellow survivors might be the man for the job. The next day, Ben and the Others break camp, and tell Locke not to bother following them unless he has his father’s body in tow.

The Island: Naomi, the parachutist, tells her rescuers that Penn Widmore hired her company to do a detailed search around specific coordinates. Until Naomi happened to see the island, just before her copter failed, she thought it was a wild goose chase. She also tells them that Oceanic Flight 815 was found in a trench off the Pacific coast, and that robot surveyors found the bodies of all the passengers. Desmond, Charlie and Hurley do not trust Jack, so they confide in Sayid. Sayid gets Naomi’s satellite phone working, but can not find a clear channel. When Kate comes across him working, Sayid demands that she not tell Jack. Instead, she immediately confronts Jack and tells him about Naomi – and that no one trusts him because of Juliet’s presence. Juliet seems to think that this is a good time to tell Kate something, but Jack disagrees as he goes off to investigate Naomi’s condition further.

Locke approaches Sawyer overnight and tells him that he has infiltrated the Others and kidnapped Ben. He asks Sawyer to come with him in order to kill Ben. Sawyer agrees to follow him but has no intention of killing anyone – although Locke reminds him that he’s killed a man before. When they reach the Black Rock, Locke barricades Sawyer in the brig with his prisoner – who isn’t Ben, but rather the con man Locke knew as Anthony Cooper. Cooper believes himself to be dead, killed in a traffic accident, and now reunited with his dead son. As he talks to Sawyer about his exploits, Sawyer begins to suspect why Locke brought him here, and asks Cooper what names he’s used in the past. When the con man mentions Tom Sawyer, James Ford knows the moment he’s been waiting for has arrived – he’s face to face with the man he holds responsible for his parents’ death.

Order the DVDswritten by Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse
directed by Eric Laneuville
music by Michael Giacchino

Guest Cast: M.C. Gainey (Mr. Friendly/Tom), Kevin Tighe (Anthony Cooper), Mira Furlan (Danielle Rousseau), Nestor Carbonell (Richard Alpert), Kimberly Joseph (Cindy), Marsha Thomason (Naomi)

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer

Categories
Battlestar Galactica (New Series) Season 4

The Road Less Traveled

Battlestar GalacticaBaltar’s monotheistic following continues to gain ground, and President Roslin pays him a personal visit to remind him that all has not been forgiven. Life is also troubled aboard the Demetrius, as Starbuck fights sinking crew morale and open discussion of mutiny. The ship strumbles across a heavily damaged Cylon ship containing a Leoben clone, who insists that Starbuck return with him to a Cylon base ship to meet its Hybrid controller. With her crew already on the verge of rebelling against her authority, this is a hard sell for Starbuck, especially when a member of the crew is killed during what should have been a routine look at Leoben’s Cylon ship. And Tyrol, still serving aboard Galactica at a reduced rank, finds himself drawn into Baltar’s orbit, but he uses the opportunity to vent his anger and grief on him rather than exploring more about his Cylon nature.

written by Mark Verheiden
directed by Michael Rymer
music by Bear McCreary

Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Michael Trucco (Anders), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Callum Keith Rennie (Leoben Conoy), Rekha Sharma (Tory Foster), Bodie Olmos (Hotdog), Keegan Connor Tracy (Jeanne), Alisen Down (Jean Barclay), Eileen Pedde (Mathias), Jennifer Halley (Seelix), Finn R. Devitt (Nicky Tyrol), Leela Savasta (Tracey Anne), Lara Gilchrist (Paulla Schaffer), Ryan McDonell (Lt. ‘Gonzo’ Pike), Lori Triolo (Phoebe)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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K-9 Season 1

Aeolian

K-9A freak hurricane seems to appear out of nowhere, and Professor Gryffen immediately formulates a theory that the severe weather is the product of unusual music that can be heard outside. The combined force of the weather and the vibrations of the music bring the roof of Jorjie’s home down on her, and while Darius tries to free her from the debris, K-9 and Starkey go to see if the alien Aeolian behind the disaster is taking requests – namely, to avoid destroying Earth.

written by Dave Warner
directed by Karl Zwicky
music by Christopher Elves

Guest Cast: Robyn Moore (Inspector June Turner), Connor Van Vuuren (Drake), Liam Nunan (Aeolian)

Notes: Oddly, both K-9 and Inspector Turner know of the Aeolians and their extinction. Also, the Aeolian’s signals are conveyed as music, therefore it would seem logical that the signals travel at the speed of sound… and yet, the reply to those signals arrives within the running time of the episode, from 10,000 light years away. Clearly, the Aeolian is using something with a bit more power than an average tube amp.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Categories
Star Trek Star Trek Fan Films Star Trek: Phoenix

Cloak & Dagger

Star Trek: Phoenix

This is an episode of a fan-made series whose storyline may be invalidated by later official studio productions.

Stardate 99336.20: In the early 25th century, after the destruction of Romulus destabilizes the political landscape of the Alpha Quadrant, Starfleet steps up to the plate by beefing up its technology and weaponry, and by sending the U.S.S. Phoenix on its maiden voyage as a “state ship” sporting a full diplomatic corps on board. But a recent surprise attack has left the Phoenix the worse for wear: the bridge has sustained so much damage that it won’t be functional again for a month. Stuck running the ship from engineering, Captain Avari is not a happy man. Having to endure the frequently short-sighted complaints of his ship’s diplomatic – or, in Avari’s estimation, bureaucratic – corps has only worsened his mood. A rescue team is dispatched to find the missing crew of a diplomatic shuttle on Ketrassii Prime, only to become trapped themselves by an enemy of unknown intent and stength (and the ability to sap power from their weapons and equipment). Captain Avari relishes the chance to get in on the action, leading the away team to recover the rescue team, but he soon discovers that the enemy they’re facing is only too familiar.

Watch Itwritten by Ben Andrews, Ben Johnson, Jon Johnson, James Lyle, Lorraine Montez, Leo Roberts, Brian Sipe and Roy Stanton
directed by Sam Akina, Gale Benning and Leo Roberts
music by Brad Anthony Laina / end credit music by Steve Brush

Cast: Ben Andrews (Captain Bryce Avari), Ben Johnson (Commander Talis Jaryn), James Lyle (Dr. Thomas Alden), Roy Stanton (Ambassador T’Von), Elle Viane Sonnet (Lt. Commander Akelyn Solara), Nicole Santora (Lt. Commander Yamora Vu’Shan), S. Joe Downing (Lt. Arca Niran), Vanessa Cobbs (Lt. Pelomar Laenah), Jesse James Pattison (Lt. Joben Karkko), Lorraine Montez (Lt./Major Ulti Natyra), J.P. Giuliotti (Admiral Theodore Grayson), Wes Hurley (Commander Telek), John Lynch (Major Noah Croft), Rodrigo Demedeiros (Minister/Councilor Tol Hadik), Mark Rahner (Lt. Guy Shaw), Leo Roberts (S.A.B.R.E. General Krik), Loren Walton (Lt. Baron), Eve Powell (Ensign Riley), Alexis Eggertsen (Lt. Ayiln), Jessica Hendrickson (Dr. DeSoto), Ben James (Lt. B.J. Nelson), Tellier Killaby (Lt. Commander Russoe Preval), Michelle McNamer (Lt. Commander Jennifer Elarah), Nathan Moore (Lt. Commander K’Var), Dennis Paillex (Lt. Casey Mendham), Fred Varnal (Lt. Natarion), Marlene Wong (Yavae Vadwel), Dylan Blackhorse-Von Jess (Katrassii Prime Romulan Agent), Jared Hemmelgarn (Katrassii Prime Romulan Agent), Ben James (Katrassii Prime Romulan Agent), Aaron Key (Katrassii Prime Romulan Agent), Spenser O’Neill (Katrassii Prime Romulan Agent), Adam Sonnet (Katrassii Prime Romulan Agent), Stephanie Hilbert (voice of Lusian), Brad Anthony Laina (voice of Praetor Sirol), William Michael Paul (voice of Praetor Bevoral), Adam Sonnet (voice of Lt. Molnar), Jason Wright (Computer voice)

Notes: Star Trek: Phoenix takes place in 2422, 35 years after the destruction of Romulus, an event which set in motion the events of the 2009 Star Trek movie; this also places it at least 40-50 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. Phoenix takes place in the “prime” timeline, while Nero’s pursuit of Spock sent much of Star Trek into an alternate timeline. Phoenix’s hull registry number is NCC-101138.

Review: A fresh step forward in the Star Trek saga, Phoenix is long overdue. While I’m a fan of the various “Kirk-era” productions, Phoenix has taken the direction that fan films have really needed to take for quite some time: forward – almost as far forward from TNG as TNG was from the original show.