Banshee Season 3 Trailer

Banshee returns on the 9th of January, alas the UK Blu-ray isn't released until the 26th!

Seasonal TV Viewing - Arctic Air

Arctic Air

I started off my annual holiday tv splurge with the third and final season of Arctic Air the Canadian drama loosely based on the exploits of Buffalo Airways who are featured in the reality drama Ice Pilots, I'm not 100% sure if there was a genuine agreement between the parties involved but the real life airline has certainly provided planes and backdrops for the fictional drama.
In this final season the story of the personal, economic and political issues surrounding the airline and the communities it serves come to the forefront as drilling rights, local and national laws and long held grudges boil over.
If you are a fan of Stargate then you'll certainly be happy with both the regular, recurring and guest actors who appear in the show, there are many familiar faces but that aside once again we get a very well produced hour of television with full use made of real world locations and of course aircraft. No question this show would have been vastly more expensive if filmed in the US or Europe but it's not only the economics of Canada that makes this series work, the scenery is stunning and perhaps only Australia would be able to match the grandeur that is a feast to the eyes.

Official Site
IMDB

Imports

Well I got fed up with waiting for a UK release of the third season of Once Upon A Time on Blu-ray and imported a region free copy from the US via Movietyme and also imported Year Zero (Hardback) a novel by Rob Reid since the UK price was ridiculous.

Fringe Season Three

I finished the third season just before christmas day and now the chaos is dying down here are a few thoughts on this season of Fringe. Well to put simply this has been the best season of the show so far and not to spoil it is the best season of the series as it brings together the two universes that Walter helped to bring into conflict so long ago. We get the transfer of characters and continued development of alternate characters which quickly become as valued as the original lineup and it has to be said that those actors playing two roles really got to go to town.
The season kicks off with the episode "Olivia" and we see both versions of Agent Dunham and how the two universes deal with them, in our Universe she is accepted without any hesitation thanks in part to Peter and Olivia's change in romantic status so things were always going to be a little different. Things are taking an unexpected turn in the alternate universe, Olivia is being treated so that she believes she belongs there and will ultimately help that universe win the ongoing war. This element of the season continues for just seven episodes and we then go deep into the "machine" story and how Peter is the key to it's use but that in itself gives the characters and the viewers many questions that need answers. One of the great things about this season is how we many of the characters are presented to the us the viewers and how the reality really unfolds, no one is simply good or evil, everyone has reasons and most of them are not operating with all the facts. Season three unfolds in such a well constructed manner it takes the viewer along without revealing anything too soon and the pay off is all the better for it.

To be honest I don't think a favourite episode list is practical, it would be a little too long but maybe one or two episodes really hit the mark for my personal taste in scifi/drama.
Subject 13
A flashback episode back to the days of young Olivia and the drug trials, we learnt so much about her life and when her and Peter first met, wonderfully told story, great acting and so many great moments especially the revelation of how Walternate learnt of his sons location.
Entrada
The revelation of fauxlivia and the compromises made by all involved powers the episode and it's the tragedy that many of the people involved were beginning to realise nothing was as it seemed none more so than Broyles the commander of the Fringe division in the parallel universe. He ultimately acts according to his own morals and ethics and pays the price but without him things would not have turned out as they did, it isn't a surprise that Broyles is shown as honourable in both worlds.

The third season was critically acclaimed but it didn't fare well in the ratings yet it did get renewed for a fourth season, maybe overseas sales were good and other merchandising added to the overall return. It may be that someone at FOX really enjoyed the show and while it's timeslot wasn't good it also meant not a lot was expected from the show. Regardless we're rolling into the fourth season with one very big question to be answered, not where is Peter, not who is Peter just......

Arctic Air Season 3 Teaser

A welcome return to an excellent Canadian drama.
Official Site


  

Game of Thrones Poster

Game of Thrones Season 3 Trailer

 Welcome back:)
A little snippet, GOT Season 3 Blu-ray is $30 on Amazon US but £36 on Amazon UK, something wrong about that!

Star Trek Enterprise Marathon Part 20

Star Trek Enterprise Marathon Part 20
Season 3 Disk 6

E²
A dangerous short cut leads to a temporal fracture which throws the Enterprise back
over a century and eventually the two ships once again meet each other, the descendants
of the original crew failed to stop the Xindi attack but offer their help to but ultimately are
willing to sacrifice the original Enterprise.
A top notch episode with time travel and cause and effect in play which all seem to be side
stepped these days with the alternate timeline/dimension but here it's good old fashioned
cause and effect. There is a lot of humour and drama to be had as we discover who paired
with who and the advances in technology and new aliens on board the old ship but it's
T'Pol whose still alive who holds the key to the future despite the misgivings of her own son.

The Council
Archer finally gets to address the Xindi council and offers up the evidence they have
gathered from both the attacks on Earth and the sphere builders, some of the council
are willing to listen but others are too eager to embrace the promises made by the builders
and the power that they belive will come with it. As Archer pleads with the Council a strike
team is sent to a sphere to gather more evidence but before any resolution is reached Degra
becomes the victim of his own beliefs.
Another very good episode as the story builds to it's conclusion, everything is being
ramped up as the Xindi begin to doubt the word of the sphere builders but the Reptilians
and Insectoids the most aggressive of the species break away, no doubt in their mind.

Countdown
Hoshi is tortured by the Reptilians in the hopes she will be able to break the encryption
on the weapon which would allow it to be launched without the consensus required but
a rescue mission is launched with the MACO's
suffering casualties. The friendly Xindi finally throw in with the humans and engage the
Rep/Insect fleet but the sphere builders interfere creating anomalies which cause devastation
amongst the allies. Again another solid episode with spectacular space combat and one on
one fighting as the MACO's storm the weapon but as with all good stories the bad guys
escape and we go down to the wire.

Zero Hour
Archer and a few of his crew on board Degra's former ship chase down the weapon
and are joined by Shran and his warship, once again Archers decisions to do the right
thing is paying off in spades but they are all still relying on the ENterprise to destory the
focal sphere in the network. If they can destory Sphere 41 then the whole chain will collapse
and maybe the Expanse will cease to be but the risk is huge, wait too long and everyone on
board the ship will be dead. Meanwhile Daniels pays Archer a visit and shows him the birth
of the Federation which requires Archer to be part of it's inception but he fails to convince
Archer not to sacrifice his life in the attempt to destroy the weapon.
When the dust settles the Enterprise is returned to Earth via one of the Aquatic ships to be
told that Archer did not survive but upon approaching the Earth they find a sky void of
satellites and communications and then a shuttle is attacked by prop drive fighters, something
has disrupted the timeline.

What an absolutely fantastic batch of episodes to wrap up the Xindi story arc, it has been
a wonderful example of serialised story telling and while there were one or two clunkers
mostly when trying to do a standalone episode everyone involved should be proud of the
work they have done.

Disk 7
Lots of Extras

The Xindi Saga Begins
Enterprise Moments
Connor Trinneer (Profile)
Roxann Dawson (A Day in the Life)
Outtakes
Behind the Camera (Marvin Rush)
Enterprise Secrets
Commentaries
Deleted Scenes

Star Trek Enterprise Marathon Part 19

Star Trek Enterprise Marathon Part 19
Season 3 Disk 5

Hatchery
A crashed Xindi ship is discovered and the landing party find that the crew has
sacrificed their lives to maintain the life support for their unborn offspring.
Archer becomes obsessed with keeping the young Insectoids alive and a
mutiny onboard the Enterprise leads to a direct confrontation.
An interesting episode but kinda falls flat over the lack of backbone by the
senior officers and Doctor when faced with a captain obviously not acting
normally or within mission parameters.

Azari Prime
The Enterprise uses a Xindi ship to recon the world where the weapon is
being constructed. Archer decides to lead a do or die mission to destroy
it but Daniels appears and shows him the future that can be created if
Archer helps to create the Federation which in time will face down the
very people who built the spheres.
A wonderful episode which spells out a lot of events which have lead to
where Archer and the Enterprise are and Archer accepting the bigger
picture that peace is not going to be achieved through another violent act.

Damage

Archer is returned to a badly damaged Enterprise but they still assist another
vessel in distress that is until they have to make a rendezvous with Degra and
without warp capability the mission will fail. An assault against the other vessel
is led by Archer leaving the aliens with only sub-light propulsion.
A big moral and ethical dilemma for Archer but you can hardly say he was wrong
in making the choice he did but easy to see how many ships/species have been
forced to act in a similar manner within the Expanse.

The ForgottenDegra meets with Enterprise and is shown the evidence of the Sphere builders
and time manipulation by the Reptilians. Tripp has issues and acts like an idiot
undermining his Captain, the mission and his own rank and responsibilities on
board the ship.
I was pulling my hair out in frustration at the ridiculous antics of Tripp during the
episode, it was weak drama to say the least but if we take it seriously the guy
has no place in command.

Star Trek Enterprise Marathon Part 15

Star Trek Enterprise Marathon Part 15
Season 3 Disk 1

The Xindi
The Enterprise pays a visit to a penal colony to talk to a Xindi inmate but things
go wrong when the Captain is held captive and the crew lineup as a new workforce
for the mine. This was a solid start to the third season, we got to see the new MACO's
in action who prove to be a valuable addition to the crew and find a lead to the
homeworld of the Xindi.

Anomaly
Spatial anomalies disrupt the starship as the Expanse shows itself to be every bit as
dangerous as the crew were led to believe. A derelict ship is discovered but the
Enterprise is then attacked by another ship who steal supplies and other tech from
her. It's the chase that eventually leads to the discovery of a giant sphere hidden
within a folded area of space.
Another good episode, lots of action and Archer has to start asking himself how
far will he go to finish his mission.

Extinction
The Enterprise visits a world known to have been host to some Xindi but the landing
party are exposed to some sort of virus which mutates them into another humanoid
life form, one that is automatically exterminated by another race who fear the spread
of this contagion. A standalone episode which is pretty much average, nothing really
new with the story except to indicate how good Phlox is but always nice to see T'pol
getting down and dirty in the oh so tight outfit.

Rajin
A visit to a trading world has Archer returning with a freed pleasure slave much to his
own surprise, he treats her right but is she all that she appears to be.
Now Firefly really did this story better but Nikita Ager as Rajin played the role well
and pretty much had everyone fooled until she met T'Pol and her alien mind powers:)
Rajin was a lot of fun, worked well and gives the Xindi a lot more depth and menace.

The opening four episodes of the third season are very strong, three solid arc episodes
and a standalone is a good spread, it's going to be a good season.

Star Trek Marathon XVI

Star Trek Marathon XVI
Season 3 Disk 2

Spectre of the Gun
Beaming down to a world which had refused them access the inhabitants are not happy and who could blame them, the Federation like many of our nations take little notice of others when their own interests are at stake. The Melkotians create a scenario from Kirk's mind and it's the Gunfight at the OK Coral which will be the means to punish the invaders. This is an excellent of an episode made to a very very tight budget but with lots of imagination and talent.

Day of the Dove
A Federation colony is destroyed with no evidence of who had committed the act of violence, soon a Klingon vessel appears with what appears to be an ongoing firefight onboard, survivors are beamed aboard and the failing ship destroyed for safety reasons. The alien entity now on the Enterprise proceeds to effect the minds of the crews and pits them against eachother using primitive weapons.

For the World is Hollow and I have Touched the Sky
A world within an asteroid is on a collision course for a Federation colony, investigating this "ship" McCoy who has been diagnosed with a fatal illness falls in love with the leader of her people who accepts that she will lose him within a year but considers it a fair trade. McCoy discovers the holy book aka operating manual  but is it too late to save himself and the world of his new people?
One of the classic Trek episodes and if nothing else deserves a medal for the episodes title, Katherine Woodville plays Natira a natural beauty and a great performance.

The Tholian Web
The Enterprise investigates the loss of the USS Defiant and when the dead ship is discovered crippled after being captured within a dimensional rip the Enterprise has to stay to recover Kirk who has phased out of our reality. Then the Tholians arrive who claim this space and begin to entrap the ship in an energy web and if completed the Enterprise will be lost. A good solid episode but the dynamic between McCoy and Spock just felt totally wrong for a third season story, far more suited to an early first season.

Plato's Stepchildren
A people blessed with strong telekinetic powers who had spent time on Earth during the peak of the Greek culture desire McCoy to stay with them to provide medical care for the odd time they needed it, they threaten Kirk and Spock as well as the crew with their powers which have run amok and use pain and humiliation to aid their cause. This episode is of course the one that went down in US telly history as having the first interracial kiss, a milestone for it's time but without that a fairly below average episode.

Extras
Previews

Star Trek Marathon XV

Star Trek Marathon XV
Season 3 Disk 1

Spock's Brain

A young woman beams on board the Enterprise and proceeds to stun everyone and has her devious way with Spock, when the crew awakens Spock is found in sickbay minus his brain!!! You know the story is rather silly or maybe just not given enough time and effort to flesh out the story to make it less cheesy given the limitations imposed on season 3 by the studio.

The Enterprise Incident

Kirk orders the ship into the Romulan Neutral Zone where it is captured, given his erratic behaviour the Romulans accept the acts of one man as not being a cause for war but intend to keep the ship and eventually free the crew. Unbeknown to everyone but a select few this is all a huge ruse to steal the cloaking technology used by the Romulans while they are distracted with their prize. To save money the Romulans have conventionally started to use Klingon designed ships in addition to the warbird seen in Balance of Terror.

The Paradise Syndrome

On beaming down to a world threatened by an asteroid the landing party discover a small native American culture is thriving, in addition a strange obelisk with alien writings seems to stand guard over these people and then they misplace Kirk. Faced with intercepting the asteroid Spock and McCoy return to the ship and ultimately damage the power systems which allows the episode to give Kirk the time to fall in love, marry and potentially become a father before tragedy strikes. 

This is a cracking little episode, resources may have been tight but the production value is top notch and while there is a large plot hole you can overlook it because it's damn good episode.

And The Children Shall Lead

A dead colony with only the children left seemingly unperturbed by the deaths of their parents and a legend of an ancient evil which used to dominate this sector of space. I couldn't help but think a firm hand or even phaser set to stun would have resolved this episode so much quicker, not one I will re-watch anytime soon.

Is There No Truth In Beauty

A very alien ambassador from a race known for their skills at navigation requires an aide with superb mental barriers to interact with humanoids who otherwise would go mad upon looking at the ambassadors form visits the ship. Diana Muldaur returns to play a new role as Dr. Miranda Jones a telepath who has had Vulcan training but hides a secret. A clever idea with a true alien life form and some background on the Vulcan culture.

Extras

Previews

The Walking Dead S3 Trailer (Spoilers)

So looking forward to the return of the show, that single trailer was probably more exciting than the whole of season two:)

Farscape Marathon Part 15

Farscape Marathon
Season 3 Part 15

Into the Lion's Den (2): Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Getting ever closer to solving the riddle of wormholes John discovers his plan won't work
leaving Crais to come up with a drastic solution. With time running out Scorpius's plans are
derailed and the crew flee for their lives.
Wonderfully emotional episode and one of my favourites.

Dog With Two Bones
In the aftermath of the events with the Command Carrier the survivors gather to bury
their dead but meet resistance from the locals. John is hallucinating over what is and
what could be and there is a newcomer on board Moya.
Season finale.

Extras
Lions Den 2: Commentary with Rockne and David
Dog With Two Bones: Commentary with Ben and Claudia
Deleted Scenes
TV promos
Listening in with Guy Gross
Season 3 Theme with Guy Gross

The third season is probably the strongest of the four, it has a very strong arc and 
some very imaginative stories with quality acting from the established stars and
guest stars. I also feel no shame in saying I well up every time I see watch the heart 
wrenching scenes on board to carrier.

Farscape Marathon Part 11

Farscape Marathon
Season 3 Part 11

Season Of Death
Season 3 kicks off with John under the knife, Aeryn dead and all manner of double
dealing and back stabbing going on as Scorpius tracks them down even with Talon
in orbit. Well we all wondered how they would address the season 2 finale events.

Suns And Lovers
Trapped on a Commerce station which is believed to be cursed by the old gods of
the region aided by a terrorist group willing to sacrifice themselves to bring about
their beliefs. D'Argo emotionally damaged comes close to sacrificing himself but
John pulls him back from the brink.

Self Inflicted Wounds: Could'a Would'a Should'a
A vessel which can traverse a wormhole strikes Moya and merges with her.
Bound together both ships risk destruction but can the aliens be trusted.

Self Inflicted Wounds: Wait For The Wheel
Well the answer to the question above is no as the crew discover much of  Moya's
damage is ongoing thanks to sabotage by the aliens who are naturally putting their
needs ahead of Moya. A surprising turn of events made more powerful because it
came out of the blue.

...Different Destinations
While visiting an historical site which offers a glimpse into the past a tear in reality
aided by Stark causes the crew to travel back to the events and land in the middle
of a siege. They discover much of the written history is not as  accurate as they thought.
This is my not really bothered episode from this season.

Extras
Wait For The Wheel Commentary with Claudia Black
Deleted Scenes
TV Promos