Interstellar News: UPDATE (left this blank by accident)!
My brain is mush. That is all.
TL;DR: In a follow-up to “The Q and the Grey“, Q Junior is now a teenager and Q thinks “Aunt Kathy” needs to instill some humanity in him. The Continuum gives Junior one week to change his ways or they’ll change him into an amoeba. Junior eventually learns his lesson, after endangering Icheb, and Q is forever grateful… in his own way that is.
Favorite Quote:
Q Junior: We were just getting to the good part!
Q: If the Continuum’s told you once, they’ve told you a thousand times. Don’t provoke the Borg! Now, I want you to give Aunt Kathy your word you won’t do it again.
Janeway: Oh, he won’t do it again because he’s leaving. Now.
Q: Excuse us, son. The grown-ups need a moment in private.
I love that Q thinks he’s a grown-up.
He thinks he can embarrass Seven, and he fails miserably.
“I am flattered that you would entrust me with your first born, but I really don’t have time.”: This was a good coming of age episode with John de Lancie’s real life kid playing the part of Q Junior. I love that Neelix was so optimistic and thought he could handle Junior with full Q powers, he just is so gullible still. Junior really does make an effort and the double fake at the end is wonderful, because Q really was paying attention to Janeway’s parenting advice. It’s funny that he calls her Captain Mom and Icheb does what he does best by being teacher’s pet. I’m also happy that they addressed the elephant in the room by asking Q to get them to the AQ and he basically asks what kind of example he’d be setting by doing all of their work? It’s a perfect way to show why he doesn’t just snap them back. This isn’t the best episode, it’s just a tribute… 7 picks of destiny for this one.
“I failed you I’m sorry / That’s simply my life story…“
Interstellar News: Today was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. There were several phone calls for work, all of them were terrible. I had a meeting I couldn’t concentrate in because my body decided to up and hate me. I took a few naps, none of them were restful. The camera on my laptop decided to stop working. I got locked out of my work email after hours. Some other things happened that were not great. Here’s to a better tomorrow.
TL;DR: Seven daydreams in the holodeck about having her implants removed and dating Chakotay… it gets super awkward. Her cortical node is failing, again, due to her experiencing high emotions. She decides to break up with holodeck Chakotay and stay celibate instead of having surgery to fix her node, especially when her distractions almost caused destruction for Voyager.
Favorite Quote:
Seven of Nine: A multispectral star chart might enhance this bulkhead.
Neelix: Or a painting.
Seven of Nine: A painting of a star chart.
Neelix: I was thinking of something more abstract, more artistic. Drapes. Nothing livens up a room like good window dressing. Not to mention the added privacy.
Seven of Nine: Privacy? We’re in space.
Seven and hologram Neelix discussing her fictional quarters, and he basically says something akin to the carpet matching the drapes… sigh.
Devil in a red dress, red dress…
“Slice these vegetables transversely in five millimeter increments.”: This episode was absolutely terrible. The holodeck dates with Chakotay were super awkward and, as my husband person put it, “not even Jeri Ryan’s boobs could make this scene tolerable”. There are some fun things, like the fake baby shower at the beginning and the fact that the crew threw a real one later on (even if it was off screen). Seven thinking about what she would do if she didn’t have any Borg parts at all were great, but so much time was spent on the fake relationship (out of nowhere) and then she just decides that sex is too much of a distraction. I mean I get it, there are (in my opinion) so many great things you can do with your time that aren’t physical with another person… but she just decides that it’s not worth it after one failed experiment. I did love her in the red dress and how she styled her hair, but that was about it, sigh. This is a weird mix of when Torres spent all of her time in the holodeck and also when Seven’s node decided to act up last time. So that’s two types of cheeses for this episode, your choice.
Interstellar News: Today was a day filled with meetings and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III. I mean, it doesn’t get much better… right?
TL;DR: Kim, Neelix, and Chakotay arrive back at Voyager to find the EMH trying to fix it up and the crew is nowhere to be found. The crew, in fact, has all had their memories futzed with and they all work at different Quarren facilities. Janeway falls in love with a man named Jaffen, Seven is named Annika Hansen and is an efficiency expert, Tuvok loses his mind, Paris still hits on Torres, and we find out this is all due to a labor shortage.
“This syndrome is just as insidious. It requires aggressive treatment. Get started.”
Chakotay is able to beam Torres back and the EMH starts to restore her memories. Slowly Chakotay gets folks on the planet to believe him, including a doctor and an investigator, and the crew works to shut down the shield grid so everyone can be beamed back. Jaffen and Janeway say goodbye, as he really was looking for a new life to lead and his memories are his own.
Favorite Quotes:
Kim: I appreciate your input, Doc, but I didn’t call you down here to help me scan. I’m still feeling kind of queasy from that nectar.
EMH: I treated you days ago.
Kim: Whatever you did hasn’t worked. Maybe all those command subroutines are compromising your medical abilities.
EMH: Maybe all that sarcasm is compromising your natural charm.
Kim and the EMH sending jabs back and forth in Part 1.
“Come on, shut off that damn alarm and I promise I’ll never violate you again.”
Torres kisses Paris
Paris: What’s that for?
Torres: For taking care of me, even when you didn’t know who I was.
Torres punches his arm
Paris: Ow! What was that for?
Torres: Flirting with your customers.
Paris: I was a victim of mind control!
Torres and Paris acting like every couple who just got their minds back. Right?
Part 1 “I can already tell it’s going to be much better than my last job.”: Part 1 does a great job setting up the scene. It’s clear that the crew has had some sort of memory wipe, but we don’t know why or how or when. Everyone is somewhat familiar, but just a bit different. Janeway is still talking to machines, Paris is still a sweet talker, and Seven is still looking for perfection. Then we get to see what happened as the EMH provides the backstory for those returning and they start to put the pieces together. I love that Tuvok, before he realizes he’s Vulcan, is scared of needles. It was that nice touch that allowed me to feel for him as he’s clearly so out of his element. We end the first part with Chakotay being cornered and Torres being abducted by Voyager. It makes me want to watch the rest and find out what happened.
“You collect spent plasma relays?”
Part 2 “We’re doctors. We’re not supposed to harm patients.”: Chakotay is able to escape, as is Voyager who was under attack. The EMH creates a plan to treat Torres and the rest of the crew, should they be rescued. It’s wonderful that it’s Neelix helping Torres get reacquainted because he’s so patient. Chakotay would have also been a good choice, given their history, but he was needed to be the good first officer and rescue his captain. Seven starts to wake up and she’s a big catalyst for helping. We find out it’s a conspiracy by some in the government and the head doctor, but that’s the problem with conspiracies… they never hold up when more than one person knows the truth. The young doctor, the investigator, and others help out the crew. It’s sad for Janeway, who had a whirlwind romance, but we all knew it wasn’t going to end any other way — well, unless he died of course.
I really enjoyed this duo of episodes. They weren’t perfect, but they were a lot of fun. They deserve 9 stuffed animals: a lobster, a goat, two bears, two dragons, two tigers, and an otter.
“I wanted to feel this. I’m thinking I’m trying to fly…”
Interstellar News: Sorry for being away… a lot has happened.
Last Saturday a dear friend came into town and we went to dinner and to visit the Carolina Tiger Rescue. We saw some big kitties, some smaller kitties, and some kitties as big as my head!
Sunday was a rewatch of Snatch, brunch at one of my favorite places, and then a Durham Bulls game in the evening.
Monday through Wednesday was a lot of work and one more Marvel Movie (Age of Ultron) before Galaxy Con Raleigh started on Thursday. We helped our friends set up the Triangle TARDIS and Bards Tower Wednesday evening and then the show began. I was masked the whole time, as were many others, but some folks weren’t. I felt very safe selling books or taking pictures for people, but I’m staying inside this week as I have a wedding I am looking forward to and want to stay safe.
I cosplayed everyday:
Thursday: Lady Riddler
Friday: Wednesday Addams
Saturday: Marty McFly and Velma
Sunday: Klaus Hargreeves
and here are the pictures I used for inspiration (from L to R, T to B: Marty, Velma, Riddler, Klaus, Wednesday):
So I was extra geeky, but didn’t get to watch any new Trek or write up much of anything. Maybe this week I’ll be extra motivated. I had an absolute blast with old and new friends alike. My next Con is Dragon Con in Atlanta, GA… and I hope to see you there!
Interstellar News: This weekend is going to be jam packed, and I’m super stoked. Picking up a dear friend from the airport, going on a Twilight tour of the Carolina Tiger Rescue, and then hoping to make it to a friend’s birthday. Sunday is morning movie, brunch at my favorite place, and a Durham Bulls game!
In news related to this blog, I have officially finished Voyager and promise I’ll be writing up all my thoughts on the remaining Season 7 episodes. In this Marvel rewatch, we’ve gotten through Guardians, volume 2. So my next entry will be a double entry on those two movies.
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
“There’s nothing more reassuring than realizing that the world is crazier than you are.”
“Well done. You just decapitated your grandfather.”: I’m not sure why everyone hates on this movie so much. It’s sad and fun and a little wonky, but it’s not Episode II bad. We get a brief view of what all of the main players have been up to and we see who the big bad is going to be. Jane Foster gets to visit Asgard, we find another Infinity Stone (or well, it finds her), and Frigga dies a noble and gut-wrenching death. Loki “sacrifices” himself, Thor learns what it means to be more like a King, and we get creepy dark elves who are trying to bring about eternal night. I love everyone telling Loki they’re going to kill him, Selvig being inappropriate at times because his mind has been addled, and Darcy because she’s a treasure. Some of the deleted scenes from this movie and Thor are compelling and should absolutely be watched. I also loved how not American-central this movie was, because Earth is a big place and not everything needs to happen in New York.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
“On your left.”
“I’m with you until the end of the line, pal.”: Another heartbreak here with Cap trying to figure out how to fit back in, finding out what happened to Bucky (a bit), and bits of comedy with Natasha constantly trying to set up Steve with women who work at S.H.I.E.L.D. A brief glimpse of Agent 13, the shock of HYDRA having infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D so long ago, and a dig about going to New Jersey on a fake honeymoon round out the ups and down of this movie. We’re introduced to Sam Wilson here and I love that he counsels other vets and is so damn down to earth. Seeing him here and having just watched The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, you really get the full picture and see the threads that were laid down in this movie. There’s a lot here with Fury keeping all of his secrets, the plethora of battle scenes, and the lines between “good and bad” being a lot more grey than they were when Cap first became a super soldier. There are so many great scenes and great lines, and it along with Dark World really are a big set up for the next two Avengers movies… Age of Ultron and Civil War.
To Boldly Go Where Everyone Has Gone Before 