Episode 216 Star Trek: Discovery S01E01 The Vulcan Hello

The Starfleet cruiser USS Shenzhou encounters a seemingly dormant Klingon ship, and one simple act opens the door for a potential interstellar war. For the first time since 2005, the Star Trek universe returns to the small screen as CBS hopes the iconic show will take its streaming service to the next level. Will Burnham's mutinous act come back to haunt her?
Episode Grade: Dave B  Wayne A-

Episode 215 The OA S01E01 Homecoming

After disappearing for seven years, Prairie Johnson returns home with a troubling story and a desire to return to the man she loves. The eight episode Netflix original series follows Prairie, who now asks people to call her The OA, as the young woman assembles a group of five disperate individuals and embarks on a journey of self-discovery. In addition to explaining to her parents and those around her where she's been, the fact that the once blind girl now can see only adds to the enigma surrounding her.
Episode Grade: Dave A Wayne B

Episode 214 Sense8 S01E01 Limbic Resonance

Cancelled after two seasons and 23 episodes, this Netflix series benefitted from fan outcry over social media and was awarded a two hour movie to enable the show's creators to tie up loose ends and provide suitable resolution. Created by the Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczynski, Sense8 tells the tale of eight individuals scattered across the globe as they discover they possess a psychic connection to each other even though they've never met. Genre television fans will certainly recognize Brian J. Smith (Stargate Universe), Freema Agyemen (Doctor Who), and Naveen Andrews (Lost) as key figures in the opening episode.
Episode Grade: A

Episode 213 Buffy the Vampire Slayer S01E01-02 Welcome to the Hellmouth/The Harvest

Buffy the Vampire Slayer marks the beginning of Joss Whedon's storied career as one of television's most iconic characters embarks on the classic hero's journey. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) teams up with two friends and the school's librarian to prevent The Master from escaping his bonds and wreaking havoc on Earth, and the quest to rid Sunnydale of all manner of demonic individuals begins.
Episode Grade: A

Episode 212 Dollhouse Original Unaired Pilot "Echo"

When the Fox executives found Joss Whedon's original pilot lacking, it was back to the drawing board. And while it's not difficult to understand in retrospect why they didn't approve, there are some redeeming qualities and interesting scenes. Of course, some of the footage found its way into "Epitaph One." We also discuss the season finales of Game of Thrones and The Defenders.
Episode Grade: Dave C  Wayne C-
 

Episode 211 Dollhouse S01E13 Epitaph One

"Kids playing with matches, and they burned down the house." In an abrupt paradigm shift, the story of the Dollhouse moves to 2019 after its technology has shattered society's fabric and brought on an apocalypse of biblical proportions. As a small band of survivors navigates the dystopic future landscape, they stumble upon the Dollhouse as they search for Safe Haven, which to them may simply be an urban myth. Juxtaposed against this story, we see, through a series of flashbacks, how the Dollhouse fell and the impact science run unchecked has on the perpetrators as well as the innocents.
Episode Grade: A+

Episode 210 Dollhouse S01E12 Omega

Even though a thirteenth episode appears on the DVD set, "Omega" was the final season one episode to air on Fox. Ballard unwittingly brings Alpha back into the Dollhouse giving the renegade active exactly what he wanted: Echo. A number of truths are revealed including Dr. Saunders' back story and the fact that the Dollhouse enlisted convicted criminals to be part of their early trials. Regardless, while Echo returns safely, Alpha remains at large waiting to wreak havoc once again.
Episode Grade: A

Episode 209 Dollhouse S01E11Briar Rose

The tale of Sleeping Beauty provides the basis for the season one penultimate episode as heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Echo's engagement centers on her attempt to help a young girl overcome emotional trauma, and Paul Ballard finally finds his holy grail. Alan Tudyk's Alpha immediately sends the narrative in a frightening direction.
Episode Grade: A

Episode 208 Dollhouse S01E10 Haunted

In order to solve a close friend's murder, Adele DeWitt has Topher bring the woman back from the dead and place her consciousness in Echo's body. Boyd is bothered by the moral and ethical ramifications of providing life after death and sees this as "the beginning of the end." The physical and emotional toll that working at the Dollhouse takes on the staff are explored through Topher's "diagnostic" with Sierra.
Episode Grade: A

Episode 207 Dollhouse S01E09 A Spy in the House of Love

Topher discovers that someone has been tampering with his imprints, and Mellie delivers Paul Ballard news that he's longed to hear. A while there is a spy within the Dollhouse's walls, it's the reveal of Laurence Dominic's true purpose that stands as a real game changer. How will Boyd handle his new responsibilities, and is Adele DeWitt really finished with her secret lover?
Episode Grade: A-