1st July, 2022.
Yes: it’s Friday, again.
And frankly?
Dinner is cooking.
The ever-so-traditional fish and chips.
On a day where I’ve had my washing machine fixed.
You can always read more about that in today’s Daily Teaser, if you’re interested!
At any rate, it’s a Friday night: which means it’s time for the now traditional TV show.
If you haven’t read last week’s blog post?
And, as with the past few weeks?
I’ll have my written and video reviews up, by tomorrow night.
I’ll see you then.
2nd July, 2022.
Episode 2 — Penance — opens with a summary of last week’s episode.
Then shifts.
To zoom in on a very different Earth.
Showing us Admiral Picard (Patrick Stewart) in the midst of a confrontation with Q (John de Lancie) in a Chateau Picard the Admiral no longer recognises.
Much to his discomfort, it’s one that includes a trophy room*.
A much disturbed Picard … ? Demands Q tells him what on Earth is going on.
Q does.
The reality he’s in, where he’s General Picard?
Is a penance, not a lesson he’s going to need someone’s forgiveness.
He’s going to need to correct the timeline.
He’s going to have help.
~≈🖖≈~
After the titles?
After the titles, we see Picard watching a video of his alternative self: finding out his other self prefers black coffee, instead of the Earl Grey tea he usually takes.
He also finds out more about this universe.
The Federation has been replaced by the Confederation of Earth.
That Laris had been killed in a Roman uprising.
And that he is due to give a speech at this years Eradication Day.
Along side Confederate President, Annika Hansen.
A president who — unknown to Picard — has also been replaced: by her ‘real universe’ self, Seven of Nine.
Unknown to either of them?
The President’s Eradication Day speech is to have a big finish.
General Picard … will be executing the Borg Queen.
~≈🤖≈~
Now …
What on Earth did I make of this lot?
I have to admit, I’m not usually one for a thriller.
Even knowing that Frederick Forsyth and John Le Carré were masters of the genre, and that thrillers themselves, can be riveting stuff.
I’ve watched a few, over the years.
The reason I’ve mentioned this?
Is that I think Penance is exactly that that!
It’s an extremely well paced, time travelling, Q-infested thriller: with de Lancie at his menacing best.
It also comes with Seven’s scheming husband, chases, thugs, slaves and a Borg Queen (played byAnnie Wersching) that’s reminiscent of Hannibal Lector† …
And as nasty as she ever was!
Frankly?
I’ll be watch episode two of Stranger Things — Vecna’s Curse — on Tuesday, 5th July: and reviewing it on Wednesday.
I’ll be watching episode three of Star Trek Picard — Assimilation — next Friday, and posting my written and video reviews, on Saturday 9th July.
I’d love it if you joined me.
Penance.★★★★
* Sarek’s skull caught my eye: as did its colour. It’s a distinct shade of pale green. In the Star Trek universe, Vulcan blood is green: as the Vulcan equivalent of haemoglobin is that colour. If I’ve understood it correctly, it’s supposed to be based on copper: rather than iron. It’s nice detailing. It’s — excuse the word — logical world building.
† Do you remember originally seeing Hopkins, as Lecter, in The Silence of the Lambs? We get a huge build up to his introduction: that makes us assume he’s a slobbering monster. The character terrifies us when we met him: as he greets Starling — and us — with a friendly ‘Good Morning,’ and a polite smile. The Queen manages to unnerve Dr Jurati, in the last few minutes of the episode … with exactly the same smile …
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