3 Razors

Star Trek: Discovery – Scavengers

  • Title: Star Trek: Discovery – Scavengers
  • wiki: link

I’m growing weary of “Michael breaks the rules” episodes. In “Scavengers,” Michael (Sonequa Martin-Green) ignores her orders and goes off in search of Book (David Ajala) who was captured while searching for another black box, on a salvage planet (sadly not named Junkion). The facility makes use of The Running Man prisoner-control technology, and may have another box with information about the Burn. Michael and Philippa (Michelle Yeoh) are able to retrieve Book and the intel, while also rescuing other enslaved workers. However, the conflict makes Michael aware of Philippa’s condition and also has lasting ramifications on her role on the ship as she finds herself demoted for ignoring Saru‘s (Doug Jones) orders and threatening the Federation’s acceptance of Discovery. The only subplots, as the mission Michael missed isn’t shown on-screen, are the ship’s upgrades and the show setting up a friendship between Nhan (Rachael Ancheril) and Stamets (Anthony Rapp).

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The Stand – The End

  • Title: The Stand – The End
  • wiki: link

The Stand - The End television review

The first episode of CBS’ new adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand focuses primarily on introducing Harold Lauder (Owen Teague) and the object of his obsession Frannie Goldsmith (Odessa Young) who are the only two survivors of Ogunquit, Maine and Stu Redman (James Marsden) who becomes a prisoner of the United States Government after he is the first person to show an immunity to the virus wiping out 99% of the world’s population. 42 years after the book’s publication and 26 years since the first television adaptation of the novel, the first episode jumps around a bit on the timeline before offering us a glimpse of the viral outbreak Charles Champion (Curtiss Cook Jr.) lets loose on the world.

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Wonder Woman 1984

  • Title: Wonder Woman 1984
  • IMDb: link

Wonder Woman 1984 movie review2017’s Wonder Woman proved to be the pleasant surprise to shine some light in DC’s otherwise gloomy extended universe. Director Patty Jenkins and star Gal Gadot reunite for a sequel set in the 1980s (apparently primarily for the purpose of making fun of the decade’s fashion sense). Gadot seems more confident in the role, hits the right emotional beats, and the sequel taps into primary motivations of the character while introducing one of the Amazon’s most famous possessions in the Invisible Plane. So why isn’t Wonder Woman 1984 more successful?

The choice to bring back Wonder Woman‘s lost love Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) is a controversial one, but the wishing stone that also turns Kristen Wiig into Cheetah and provides Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) with near unlimited power does work as a catalyst to get things rolling. Trevor’s return forces Diana to confront her own feelings as does the dread that defeating Max may mean saying goodbye to Steve again. It’s a clever way to bring the character back for one more film but other than the personal turmoil it causes Diana, I don’t think the script is helped by Trevor’s inclusion.

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MacGyver – Thief + Painting + Auction + Viro-486 + Justice

  • Title: MacGyver (2016) – Thief + Painting + Auction + Viro-486 + Justice
  • wiki: link

MacGyver - Thief + Painting + Auction + Viro-486 + Justice television review

I haven’t watched much of the CBS reboot of the 80s MacGyver. What I have seen has been more MacGyverish or Team MacGyver compared to the original. The latest episode, and the first I’ve watched in several seasons, features not one but two art thefts. Ah, I just can’t resist a heist. Aimee Mullins guest-stars as former art thief extraordinaire Jess Miller whose career was cut short by a horrific leg injury. Blackmailed into helping, Miller trains Desi (Levy Tran) to break into a weapon dealer’s safe to retrieve a bio-weapon before it can be sold to terrorists. The heist, and training exercises, offers a host of challenges in terms of a locked room, safe, lasers, and sensors, all which need to be beaten within a minute. Oh, and then there’s the twist.

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G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #276

G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #276 comic reviewPart 1 of “Untold Tales” kicks off a new arc for G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero with the original Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Stalker, Torpedo, Wild Bill, Lift-Ticket, Roadblock, and Scoop sent into Northern Trucial Abysmia to capture weapons tech Alpheus Hunzucker responsible for the region’s poison gas program which has wiped out entire villages of ethnic minorities. Assisting the strike force are a pair of locals, one of whom is nearly as lethal with a blade as Snake Eyes himself.

After the lengthy “Snake Hunt” arc, this single-issue tale is a nice change of pace for the comic, and it appears to be just the first as the next several issues will be short tales featuring fan favorite characters in untold JOE adventures. The running gag of Scoop being prevented from filming the action (his one job) gets a little tiresome, but otherwise the issue works well enough.

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