Aaaaaand we're back. I'm sorry that I was gone all summer but June and July were a whirlwind of work, vacation, grad school and traveling. But I'm back, just in time to put out a review of episode 12 of season 2, the Keeper.
From the the back of the box:
Can the keeper of the secret really be on Goth? Docholli certainly thought so and Blake can't resist the lure of so great a prize - the location of Star One at last and the chance to destroy the Federation forever...
From the the back of the box:
Can the keeper of the secret really be on Goth? Docholli certainly thought so and Blake can't resist the lure of so great a prize - the location of Star One at last and the chance to destroy the Federation forever...
What a weird episode. Two words. Space. Goths. No, not space nerds who wear all black. Goths. As in Ostrogoths and Visigoths. You know, the people who helped overthrow the Roman Empire. On the up side, Jenna gets let out of the kitchen again. Although as you can imagine shenanigans occur. This review will just give a brief overview and then my thoughts. I honestly watched this episode several months back and then didn't have time to review it. As always, decades old spoilers ahead.
Did someone say shenanigans?
Our story begins with Blake, Villa and Jenna teleporting down to the planet Goth. Per standard operating procedure they are attacked and all but Blake are captured immediately. Why didn't Avon and Cally teleport them back up? Was it another betrayal? Did Zen act up again? Nope, it was out of position because Avon spotted Travis' ship and moved to destroy it. Cally of course was against it but who listens to her anyway. They manage to blow up said ship, not get Travis but finally retrieve Blake. Who of course turns right back around and heads back to the planet where he proceeds to do zero good.
Blake will be here any minute. Any minute now. Any. Minute.
Jenna and Vila are taken to Gola the Charl, whatever that means, of the Goths. Gola claims Jenna as his bride and Vila as his new fool. Obviously this doesn't please the former fool who is such a poor caricature of a court jester that I felt bad for him. I felt like the poor fool, get it, needed a hug. For some reason Servelan is there, with Travis no less, looking for the keeper. Everyone seems to believe that one of the royal family members has the coordinates just written on the back of their medallions. Maybe in sharpie I guess.
The fool gets Vila thrown in prison where he meets an old man who is clearly off his rocker. This leaves Jenna alone trying to outsmart Gola. Not that that is a difficult job. Gola is slightly smarter than a reality show star. Wait. No. Nevermind. Blake runs into Rod, Gola's brother, who is heading to challenge him for the title of Charl. Sadly for Rod Gola is a much better athlete than he is a thinker. Gola slays Rod and gets himself poisoned by their sister. Travis escapes ahead of Blake getting there stranding Servelan. And everyone winds up in the dungeons with the crazy ole coot who is revealed as Gola and Rod's dad. Aaaaaaaaand he doesn't have the coordinates either. All is lost! Or, ya know, there's a plot twist. The fool has a memory engram which Blake triggers by saying the super secret code giving them the location of Star One setting us up for the season finale.
The fool gets Vila thrown in prison where he meets an old man who is clearly off his rocker. This leaves Jenna alone trying to outsmart Gola. Not that that is a difficult job. Gola is slightly smarter than a reality show star. Wait. No. Nevermind. Blake runs into Rod, Gola's brother, who is heading to challenge him for the title of Charl. Sadly for Rod Gola is a much better athlete than he is a thinker. Gola slays Rod and gets himself poisoned by their sister. Travis escapes ahead of Blake getting there stranding Servelan. And everyone winds up in the dungeons with the crazy ole coot who is revealed as Gola and Rod's dad. Aaaaaaaaand he doesn't have the coordinates either. All is lost! Or, ya know, there's a plot twist. The fool has a memory engram which Blake triggers by saying the super secret code giving them the location of Star One setting us up for the season finale.
Final Thoughts:
To be such an important episode it was very poorly written and executed. There were enough plot holes to fly the Liberator through. First, how did Servelan and Travis learn that the location of Star One could be found on Goth? Neither of them were around when Docholli revealed it to Blake and Co. Secondly, when did Travis get back in Servelan's good graces? Last episode they were on the outs, this episode they're best buds again. And finally, how DID we wind up with a whole planet of technologically stunted Goths? Did a faction of Germanic people on earth one day to decide to recreate their ancestors way of life on an alien planet? Did they fly thousands of light years, still manage to keep contact with the Federation, yet dump all technology to live in tents? Nah brah. I don't buy it.
However, as poorly put together as it was at least this episode set us up for the season Finale Star One. Hopefully it will make up for the weak episodes of this season. Oh, and honorable mention complaint. Yet again they let Jenna off the ship only to have her captured and essentially claimed as property. I was some what pleased to see her outsmart her captors at every turn, a point that amused even Servelan, but I still feel like the writers treatment of the female characters is poor.
Rating: 2 out of 5.
Memorable Quote:
Vila to a guard: At least leave me a torch, I don't like the dark! I like to see what I'm scared of.
Coffee of the Day:
Nothing fancy today, Foldiers Gourmet Supreme. It's not as dark as some brews that I like but it still has a nice full flavor. Even though admitting to drinking Foldiers instead of my Community makes me feel slightly ashamed.
To be such an important episode it was very poorly written and executed. There were enough plot holes to fly the Liberator through. First, how did Servelan and Travis learn that the location of Star One could be found on Goth? Neither of them were around when Docholli revealed it to Blake and Co. Secondly, when did Travis get back in Servelan's good graces? Last episode they were on the outs, this episode they're best buds again. And finally, how DID we wind up with a whole planet of technologically stunted Goths? Did a faction of Germanic people on earth one day to decide to recreate their ancestors way of life on an alien planet? Did they fly thousands of light years, still manage to keep contact with the Federation, yet dump all technology to live in tents? Nah brah. I don't buy it.
However, as poorly put together as it was at least this episode set us up for the season Finale Star One. Hopefully it will make up for the weak episodes of this season. Oh, and honorable mention complaint. Yet again they let Jenna off the ship only to have her captured and essentially claimed as property. I was some what pleased to see her outsmart her captors at every turn, a point that amused even Servelan, but I still feel like the writers treatment of the female characters is poor.
Rating: 2 out of 5.
Memorable Quote:
Vila to a guard: At least leave me a torch, I don't like the dark! I like to see what I'm scared of.
Coffee of the Day:
Nothing fancy today, Foldiers Gourmet Supreme. It's not as dark as some brews that I like but it still has a nice full flavor. Even though admitting to drinking Foldiers instead of my Community makes me feel slightly ashamed.