When it comes to Star Trek, the Original Series and its cast of characters will always occupy a special place in my heart. However, after Strange New Worlds arrived in 2022, it quickly became another one of my favorite Trek tales.
This show is packed with a sense of wonder, adventure, and fun. It strikes a (nearly) perfect tonal balance, being humorous without coming across as too flippant, and applying the right amount of gravitas when it counts.
I’ve enjoyed what we’ve seen in season 3 so far, with a few potential concerns that will hopefully turn out to be minor once the season’s full story arc is complete.
Spoilers ahead if you’re not caught up with the most recent episodes!
It feels as if the galactic threat posed by the Gorn was dealt with a little too easily in the opening episode of this season. After all that build up, the Gorn sort of just disappear. However, based on the lingering side effects experienced by Captain Batel and Lieutenant Ortegas after their Gorn encounters, we may not have seen the last of the Gorn after all.
Also, the Spock + La’an relationship caught me by surprise. It sort of makes sense they’d have a connection, but it also feels a little abrupt and I’m not sure where exactly the showrunners are going with this. As a person who equally loves science fiction like Dune and soapy period pieces like Bridgerton, I’m not afraid of a little relationship drama. I just hope that this subplot is handled well.
Freakier Friday
A Nostalgic Body-Swap Comedy That Still Brings the Fun
On my birthday, I went to see Freakier Friday with a group of friends, and it was exactly what I’d hoped it would be.
The new sequel does not veer far from the template followed by the 2003 family comedy starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan (which was itself inspired by an original novel and is not even the first time this story has been adapted on film).
The 2003 film about a mother and daughter swapping bodies and improving their relationship has become a Millennial classic, and the sequel is a sweet if not exactly groundbreaking followup.
This time around, Lindsay Lohan plays a mom who swaps places with her daughter, and Jamie Lee Curtis swaps places with the teen who will become her step-granddaughter after Lohan’s character’s upcoming wedding (yes, it’s all a bit complicated).
Jamie Lee Curtis proves once again why she is a national treasure, and she seems to be having a blast playing a teen trapped in an aging body. She and Lohan are great foils for each other, and they embrace the script’s silly moments with flair.
This movie offers both laughter and heart, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it in the theater. If you’re a fan of the 2003 film, this is worth a nostalgic trip to the theater.
Wednesday: Season 2
Still Spooky Fun, but Missing a Little of the Magic
Despite not being a previous aficionado of Addams Family content, I fell absolutely in love with the 2022 Netflix series starring Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams. This show was spooky and funny, with a wonderfully gothic atmosphere.
It feels like we’ve been waiting forever for a follow-up series, but now we have it – well, at least part of it. The first half of season 2 dropped in August, with the rest of the episodes scheduled for September.
As I’ve been working my way through the available episodes, I’ve been enjoying myself so far. Either I forgot or had no idea Steve Buscemi was going to be in this, but I was delighted by his appearance.
Maybe it’s simply because some of the newness and novelty has worn off, but I’m not quite as enthralled by season 2 as I was with the first. I’m entertained, and I want to keep watching, but I don’t feel the same sort of compulsion to binge watch as I did before. Maybe it’s because I’ve also got Strange New Worlds to distract me. Or maybe this time I know a little more what to expect, so the show doesn’t feel as surprising.
I’ll reserve final judgement until all the episodes are out, and I hope there is a satisfying conclusion to both the mystery and the characters’ personal journeys.
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