The Last Ship: The sixth recap

Warning: SPOILERS for the sixth episode of "The Last Ship" ("Lockdown") to follow. Ye be warned.

When last we left the U.S.S. Nathan James:

• A crazy stand-off in the jungle got violent when Commander Chandler and his team of matadors decided to take on El Toro.
• Danny proved that he's not the girly-man we all thought he was.
• The crew of the Nathan James proved that they are willing to make hard decisions, leaving behind a beach full of infected jungle-people.
• But they did bring back a couple boats full of monkeys to test Dr. Scott's vaccine on... so we'll undoubtedly see how they manage to screw that up in the next hour.

Right off the bat, let me just say that the four seconds of showering that we just witnessed were weird and totally unnecessary. Very strange way to kick off the show, but whatever.

Granderson and another officer are shown in the radio room, picking up broken frequencies from undisclosed locations. Sounds like a distress call. They talk about their concerns, which are, mainly, that the rest of the crew doesn't really know what's going on in the outside world. They only get the, ahem, watered down version. That was an ocean joke. Because they're... nevermind.

Meanwhile, Chandler, Mike and Jeter are having a similar discussion - what does the crew need to know about Nicaragua? How much do they deserve to know? And what should remain a secret? Cue the five-second intro clip.

Dr. Scott is monkeying around down in her lab... in the sense that she is working on her vaccine whilst surrounded by a bunch of Nicaraguan primates. She's going to have to try a bunch of different stuff to figure out whether the vaccine is going to work.

Chandler heads to the bridge and hops on the intercom. He updates his crew on their recent progress, including all the juicy details about their little scuffle with El Toro and his villagers. He informs them that they encountered some people who had been infected by the virus, including children, and that they did not attempt to save them. Somewhere down in the depths of the ship, Quincy pokes his nerdy little head out from his bunk bed. Apparently that means that his chess partner didn't kill him. Good to know. He says that they are now charting a course for home and that, by the time they get back to the U.S. of A., Dr. Scott should have her vaccine ready to go. "Today is a good day," he says. Fat chance, my man. Fat chance.

Tex, being the perv that he is, heckles the newly reformed macho man, Danny, about his recently broken-off relationship with Foster. Danny tells Tex to shut up and not say another word about it because "it's over. It has to be." Fat chance, my man. Fat chance.

Quincy and his chess friend, "Bacon," discuss the crew's future plans for the treacherous scientist. Bacon blows him off, basically, and says that no matter what happens, Quincy will wind up behind bars. Quincy whines about being blackmailed and is promptly put into "check."

Chandler is growing a bit impatient with Dr. Scott's inability to create a successful vaccine. She claims that the biggest breakthroughs usually come after significant setbacks. Chandler asks what Scott plans on doing with the monkeys who have died in the process. Scott says they need to be thrown overboard. He tells her to go ahead and do it - but to make sure it happens at night. If anyone asks, it's "hazardous waste."

Six monkeys down, 28 to go. Jeter and Mike tell Chandler that he's going to be in big trouble if they make it all the way back to America without a proper vaccine. They ask how Scott is going to hide her failures and Chandler says she will "be discrete" about it. He says they'll need to stall for a few days.

Quincy knows that something is wrong. Bacon wonders if the ship will end up docking somewhere like Venezuela or Brazil to finish up the vaccine, but Quincy explains that warm climates - or "hot zones" - have a 98% death rate. He says that Puerto Rico has a lab where Scott could work, but if they head there, the Russians might still be near Cuba. And that wouldn't be good. Quincy hates Chandler, and that's no real surprise. He says that Chandler hates to admit that he's wrong - and he's hiding something from the crew.

Night has fallen. It's the changing of the guard, as it were, as security guards are being swapped out on the main deck. Dr. Scott hauls some of the monkeys out of her lab and onto the flight deck. But wait! One of the guards sees her launching a bag overboard and grows suspicious.

Down inside the ship, several card-playing crew members chat about urban legends - how deadly the virus is, what happens when you get infected... One guy worries that somebody may have contracted the disease when the expedition encountered the sick people on the beach. Tex assures them that everybody is fine; Dr. Scott tested them all when they came back, anyway. Danny stumbles into the room and looks like he's going to puke. TIMBER! Down goes Danny! Down goes Danny!!

Chandler and Scott come to check on Danny. Scott sounds almost annoyed, insisting that he is not sick. She explains that, in the very unlikely event that he was contaminated, everybody on the ship is going to die. However, she again asserts that he is going to be just fine and she storms out of the room, telling everyone to stop panicking.

Other crew members are beginning to feel like they are left in the dark. Some of them don haz-mat suits, just in case. Chandler wonders aloud if Scott is wrong. Tensions build. Chandler tells Mike to assume the worst about this situation. Mike hops on the intercom and tells the crew to seal all ventilation and put on their suits. Foster breaks the rules and heads down to the sick room with Chandler, Scott and Danny, announcing that she ate lunch with him, so, if he has it, she has it, as well. To make a long story short (too late), everybody on the entire ship is freaking out.

Scott is using a Playstation 3 controller to hold up an IV bag. Ha. Chandler receives a call that informs him that Danny has a non-contagious fever. Scott mentions that she has had some issues with the vaccine, but says that Danny will be ok, although the next 24 hours will be crucial for him. Mike announces over the intercom that there is no biological threat, so the crew can open doors again and take off their suits. The crew members seem confused, mad and paranoid.

Chandler finds out that Danny and Foster were in a relationship and he's not thrilled about it. Nobody likes you, Foster! Chandler is also not happy with Dr. Scott. She says that he needs to find a way to trust her or this entire mission will fail.

Quincy further instills doubt in Bacon, who is apparently much more of a lightweight than his physical appearance would let on. He tells Bacon that Scott's vaccine is failing, that monkeys are dying and that the ship is a "death trap."

Dr. Scott goes emo down in her lab, sulking about how Chandler doesn't trust her anymore. Tex comes down and gives her a little pep talk that is half-flirting and half-confidence building. He says he believes in her and says she'll figure it out eventually. Scott looks like she hates all men. She probably does.

Jeter tells Chandler and Mike that a group of 16 crew members want to get off the ship immediately. Jeter says they can't hold the men against their will - they're not El Toro - but Mike thinks that letting them walk would send the wrong message to the rest of the crew.

Amidst hushed talk of an uprising, all crew members are called to the main deck. Chandler addresses the crew, saying that he has been trying to shelter them from the painful truth - that the world they once knew is no longer there. He understands that some of the crew might be disappointed in him as a captain, but they should not give up hope. He says that the mission is not about him. "It's about them," he says. Mike, taking his cue, has Granderson play distress calls from people all over North America through the loudspeakers. He opens a large door, revealing Dr. Scott's lab, saying that she has the solution to their problems. He invites the crew into the lab and explains what Scott has been doing in there. He backs her up and lends her a lot of credibility so that the crew will trust her. Scott speaks up and admits that her vaccines have been failing. She says that she doesn't have the answers now and may not have them tomorrow, but she won't stop until she succeeds. Chandler promises to share more information with the crew in the future. He addresses the mutiny and says he will let the men go if they so desire, with no strings attached. Their enlistment is up and their boat will be ready tomorrow morning. However, in the next scene, he tells Tex, "If they go, hope goes with them."

The next morning, the 16 men, including Bacon, meet Chandler on the flight deck. Their ringleader approaches Chandler, hands him a folded American flag and tells him that the entire group desires to re-enlist with the navy. They raise their arms to the square and renew their oath to the United States of America.

Danny's fever has subsided and it looks like he'll be fine. Chandler tells Foster that Danny is one of the best men he has served with, then asks her what she thinks her punishment should be for breaking the rules. She suggests four weeks of something-something-naval-mumbo-jumbo. Chandler says that three weeks will be sufficient, but he also wants her to come up with a new training program for junior officers and engineers and he wants her to publicly apologize for her dangerous actions a couple weeks back.

Chandler enters Quincy's room and calls him out for conspiring with Bacon. He understands that those two had been doing a lot of talking. He confiscates Quincy's chess board - his one privilege as a prisoner - and says, "No more talking."

--

All right. There you have it. Another episode in the books. I didn't find it quite as thrilling as last week's awesome show, but several important things took place tonight. What we learned:

• Dr. Scott is not as close to finishing her vaccine as she thought she was.
• Quincy is still a rat.
• Chandler admitted a few mistakes and promised to keep his crew in the loop moving forward.
• Chandler put his neck on the line to protect Scott and re-solidify the crew's trust in her.

--

It looks like next week will give us some more action, as an apparent SOS call from a Jamaican ship may end up being a deadly trap. We've got Chandler in the water telling Mike to cease any rescue efforts. Crazy. But hey... What did you think of tonight's episode? Is anybody out there? Break your radio silence and leave a comment below. Or not. Whatever. See you next week for another episode of "The Last Ship."

The Last Ship: The fifth recap

Warning: SPOILERS for the fifth episode of "The Last Ship" ("El Toro") to follow. Ye be warned.

When last we left the U.S.S. Nathan James:

• After a pretty boring episode, the crew was able to sail their way to an island in the middle of the ocean after spending the entire hour trying to repair their engines.
• In what seemed like one of the only important plot lines, Dr. Scott experienced a break-through and told Commander Chandler that she was ready to test her vaccine prototype.
• Most of the crew went ashore, partying like a bunch of hippies, and all seemed to be well... or so it would seem...

In the intro scene, Commander Chandler tells some crew members that they are close to reaching Costa Rica, where Dr. Scott hopes to test her vaccine on monkeys. Cue the short opening credits thingy. So short, as always.

Tex crosses paths with Dr. Scott down in a workout room and, shockingly, he mentions to go an entire scene without hitting on anyone or saying something inappropriate that was undoubtedly written into the dialogue by Michael Bay, himself. Scott, on the other hand, looks like this is her first encounter with a treadmill, as she appears to be running rather awkwardly. Tex encourages Scott to begin eating dinner with the rest of the crew again. Scott declines, explaining that she is not well-liked on-board the ship after having lied to everyone for four months. Tex tells her that she underestimates people's capacity for forgiveness and says he will save her a seat next time.

Chandler is making a video log detailing the crew's journey. He speaks to his family as if he will never see them again. They are, of course, cooped up at a family cabin, safe from the disease for the time being.

Adam "Mike" Baldwin doesn't think Costa Rica is a viable option, but there's a monkey reserve in Nicaragua that they could check out. Dr. Scott is demanding to go along on the expedition. Chandler says he's going, too, and he needs all his best men, including Mike. "It's been a while since I've been hunting," Mike quips.

Two boats of crew members head to the island while, back on the ship, a bridge officer barks out a few orders, noting that the expedition crew has red flares to shoot off if they get into trouble. She says she hopes they don't see the red flares. I, on the other hand, would bet money they'll end up seeing the red flares.

The expedition crew reaches the shore. Scott has been to the reserve before, years ago. Tex asks her if she has a boyfriend. She does. He's a journalist. Tex, if you can fathom it, is single. "A bit of a rolling stone," he claims. Monkeys... AND IMPOVERISHED PEOPLE!! Oh gosh, they look sickly. The crew puts on their masks and the mumbling natives start grabbing at our American friends. The crew books it back to the shore and Chandler tells them to get the heck out of there. No red flares yet, but wow, that was like four times as exciting as last week's entire episode.

The two boats split up. Tex and Scott head back to the ship while Chandler and Mike continue upstream. They come upon an abandoned boat. Its side is marked "El Toro." Apparently that's what all the sick people were mumbling. They decide not to stop and continue floating the river. Chandler's boat is outside of radio range and will have to rely on flares to give off their location from now on. Scott suggests to the bridge officer that they send a back-up team, but the officer denies the request. The plan was to be gone for 48 hours without back-up unless there was a red flare.

Chandler and his team reach the jungle. One crew member steps on a trap and, suddenly, the team is being ambushed by natives with guns. Chandler and his crew are taken to a village full of people of all ages - babies, teens, adults and the elderly. The natives seem hostile and potentially violent. There is a lot of angry-sounding Spanish (mostly "hurry up!" and things of that nature). The village seems modernized, at least, so... good for them. Chandler and his men are hauled over to a Tony Shalhoub look-alike who they call "El Toro." He tells Chandler that the island is virus-free so they will not need their suits and masks, but he refuses to return the Americans' guns. El Toro says that the guy that stepped on the trap will soon die from poison that laced the spikes and that only he possesses the antidote. Chandler and Mike demand that El Toro heal the wounded crew member, but he calls their bluff and tells them to stop spouting off hollow threats. He tells his men, in Spanish, to take the guy to the doctor and he invites Chandler and his crew to dine with him.

El Toro brings Chandler and Mike into his office... er... tent... and introduces a man who he calls "Delgado." Delgado is the former mayor of a society that El Toro conquered on the island. Now, he runs this village on a model of labor exchange. Delgado's people - the poor, sick ones Chandler saw in the village - provide labor and El Toro provides protection. Mike refers to that kind of lifestyle as "slavery." El Toro says Delgado should be grateful that he and his people were spared from the virus.

Meanwhile, Chandler's men notice that Trap Boy's poison-induced fever has gone down. The antidote seems to be working. But they're reluctant to believe that El Toro intends to let them walk away from the island alive.

El Toro insinuates that he is having what many would call "inappropriate" relations with Delgado's daughters, including one who is at the table. She calls him a "pig" and Delgado immediately, profusely apologizes, saying that she meant no disrespect. Chandler tells El Toro that his only desire is to make sure that his men get off the island alive and requests to check on Trap Boy. El Toro refuses, saying that there is more to discuss. The natives inspected Chandler's ship and found their tranquilizer guns. Chandler explains that they were looking for monkeys to test the vaccine on. El Toro informs them that they had, in fact, just eaten monkeys. (It's "Temple of Doom" all over again!!) "If you needed monkeys, all you had to do was ask!" he exclaims, then asking how many the Americans need.

Several of Chandler's men are shown taking crates of monkeys back to their boat. El Toro asks about the team's radio, which his men discovered does not receive a signal, and the flares that were also found on the boat. Chandler lies, saying that they use red flares during the day and green flares at night. El Toro correctly assumes that green means the team is ok and red means danger. "It's a universal language, no?" Back on the ship, Lt. Granderson reports a green flare, south-west of the Nathan James' position. I... don't think that was shot off by Chandler...

While Mike helps Danny load monkeys onto the ship, some of the natives physically abuse some of Delgado's people. Delgado and his daughter are dragged into the area and he shouts that they are going to take her "across the river" to the sickly people Chandler escaped on his way toward El Toro. Brief violence erupts as Delgado, Mike and Danny all receive some blows while the girl is loaded onto a boat.

Tex watches "McHale's Navy" reruns while Scott is sleeping. She awakes from an apparent nightmare, concerned about Chandler and his team. Tex tells her that they recently saw a green flare and everything is fine.

Au contraire! Delgado's people are being held at gunpoint and Mike and Danny are bound and bloodied. Chandler demands that his men be let go, but El Toro is getting angry. He says that he cannot maintain a society without rules and consequences (like the death penalty for Delgado's daughter, for instance). He says that his rules are the only reason they are still alive while the rest of the world is dying. The Monk wannabe tells Chandler that he will keep their suits, masks and guns, and return his men to him and allow them to leave, but that is his only offer. Chandler agrees to the terms. El Toro says that if Chandler so much as thinks about bombing the island, "the children will be sleeping in the tents" with him, starting with one of Delgado's younger daughters. That's one nasty dude.

Chandler's crew, along with a memory-bereft Trap Boy, head away from the island, but Mike is T.O.'d and won't allow that kind of savagery to go on. He begs Chandler to turn the boat around. Jeter, our resident pastor, advises against any action, but several of the men are fathers with daughters at home and Chandler, like the baller he is, says, "We came to hunt." Boom. Jeter flips the boat around. It's go time.

And when I say "go time," I mean it's time to go to another commercial.

El Toro is shown in his tent briefly with two of Delgado's daughters. Like any good host, he's getting the youngest one drunk. Yikes. Chandler and Mike stealthily, yet forcefully, take out two of the perimeter guards. Now they've got weapons. Danny takes out another guard. Chandler fires shots, dispatching of another foe, but alerting El Toro and his men. A gun fight breaks out and Danny locks one guard in the Sleeper Hold of Death. The Americans track El Toro and his youngest hostage back to the river, where he holds her at knife-point. Jeter, that sneaky sermon-giver, takes out three of El Toro's bodyguards from the bushes, evening the odds for Chandler and Mike. El Toro gives up the girl and drops his knife, surrendering, but demanding that Chandler arrest him. Out of nowhere, Delgado stabs him from behind, killing him. "This place is yours now," Chandler tells Delgado. "Not mine," he responds. "Ours." Hugging ensues. Embrazos por todos lados.

On their way back to the Nathan James, Chandler's boat passes by the beach of infected natives. The men look incredibly emotional, but don't stop - a pretty powerful scene to close out the episode.

--

What we learned:

• Post-relationship Danny is pretty awesome. Great episode for a struggling character.
• Cool-hand Chandler + Magic Mike = another strong episode for the show's best duo.
• There are other bad guys out there that are just as intriguing as those Russians from a few weeks back.
• The crew is willing to make hard decisions - like going back to save Delgado, but not stopping at the infected beach.

--

Your thoughts? I thought that was a heck of an episode - absolutely head and shoulders over last week's snoozer. Lots of action and a good deal of human emotion and one of the best outings yet for our intrepid survivors. In the teaser for next week's show, it looks like bringing monkeys on board might not have been a great idea, plus, Scott is shown chucking something overboard. That can't be good. But what's worse is the sight of a crew member collapsing and the dramatic image of three crew members on the bridge in full suits and gas masks. Woof. If there is anybody out there watching this show, other than me, Fred, George and Richard, leave a comment in the section below. We'd love to get your input. But either way, we'll catch you next week for another brand new episode of "The Last Ship."

The Con to End All Cons

As a nerd have you every asked yourself the following questions? Are there other nerds out there who have my likes? Is there a place where all nerds could come together? I’m here to tell you that there is in fact a place. A place so coveted tickets are like gold. Yes, I’m talking about the nerd Mecca, San Diego Comic Con (SDCC). Now if you’ve ever experienced a con, you have been exposed to a mere fraction of what SDCC is like. If you don’t like crowds of screaming fanatics, you best stay away because SDCC is not for the feint of heart.

Having been two times I can tell you that every nerd MUST experience the awesomeness that is SDCC. However, there is a right way to do SDCC and there is a wrong way. In this post I will offer a few tips to make the most out of your SDCC experience (because believe me after this post you will be making plans for next year).

1. Be prepared to spend most of your money on a hotel room

Location is key. My first time, I spent an hour commuting round trip from my hotel. That is a precious hour I could have used for something else, like waiting in line. My second time, I booked a hotel in the Gaslamp district. My commute consisted of a ten-minute walk, which was perfect.  After a full day of geeking out, you will be glad you paid the extra money for a close hotel.

2. Don’t expect to get any sleep

If you want to see the good panels, you must be in line at 2am to have a hope of getting in. I got in line for a panel that early and I almost didn’t make it. Bring a comfy chair you don’t mind sitting in because you will spend a lot of time in line.

3. Bring your own food

Once you get into a panel room, you can stay there as long as you like, but once you leave the room you have to wait in line all over again. At this point, you may have been awake for 8 hours and can feel the hunger taking over. SDCC does sell food, but it is overpriced and not very good. Bringing your own food ensures that you will be well fed and happy the duration of your day.

4. Bring a good camera

Cons are the perfect place for people watching. You really never know what you are going to experience and you may want to remember that moment forever, or not as the case may be. Have a camera handy for pictures of your favorite actor, or just some great cosplaying.

5. Make friends in line

This is one of the best parts of SDCC or any con. You will spend a great deal of time in line, so it’s great to start a conversation with the people around you. Don’t worry, you are both at a con already so you have something in common.  I have met the nicest people while waiting in line. Making friends will make the wait seem much shorter.

6. Remember, you won’t be able to see it all

SDCC is HUGE! No one can cover everything. Make a plan A and a plan B before you go. I have found this to be extremely helpful. A good plan can make SDCC a once in a lifetime experience. A bad plan could leave you feeling disappointed. Keep in mind that you may not get to see everything, but you will have a great time trying.

And that my fellow nerds are a few quick tips on how to experience a great SDCC. Above all, when you go to any con just remember to HAVE FUN. Con’s are a great way for people with similar interests to come together and have a good time. So, if this has wet your appetite to go to SDCC let me know. I’d love to meet up with you next year.

The Last Ship: The fourth recap

Warning: SPOILERS for the fourth episode of "The Last Ship" ("We'll Get There") to follow. Ye be warned.

When last we left the U.S.S. Nathan James:

• We found out that Quincy was being blackmailed by the Russians, who had at least one member of his family (his wife) on-board their ship. Quincy is now in hot water, as it were, with the American crew.
• Using a tricky sequence of maneuvers, Commander Chandler and his crew outsmarted the Russians and escaped the harbor practically unscathed.
• Foster and Danny had a little falling out, ending in Danny telling her that he loved her - and demanding that she stay away from him.
• There is some freaky dude (Quincy's scientist buddy?) on-board the Russian ship and he seems to be immune from the virus.

Flashback!! Commander Chandler starts off the episode by saying goodbye to his family in a rural American city. Where's the picket fence? Seems like he was living the American dream before setting sail with the Nathan James. Two cute kids and a lovely wife.

But that was then and this is now! Chandler is back on the Nathan James, his family a distant memory for which he longs to return. It's his anniversary. (However, lest we forget, we saw his these three two episodes ago. They were in good health and hiding out at a family cabin.) Chandler is listening to the radio, trying to assess the situation back on the mainland, but he says it's all just "a lot of static." Mike comes in to talk to Chandler briefly and they discuss the loss of Mike's son, who died from the virus. "There's still a chance," Chandler says, "for all of us." Cue the intro.

A couple of crew members are shooting some hoops. The basketball goes overboard. The game is over. And the crew no longer has any balls. Speaking of which, downstairs, Danny, a coward of a lover, tells Tex to stop checking out the female officers.

Dr. Scott  tells Chandler that she needs three strains of the virus: primordial, Egyptian, and the strain she extracted from the cruise ship. She needs Quincy's help and Chandler very reluctantly gives his permission to let the scoundrel back in the lab. Confronted by Dr. Scott, Quincy, bad haircut and all, gets upset and refuses to work with her.

The lights flicker and the power goes out. There's a fire in the engine room - and if they don't get things back up and running, Dr. Scott is in jeopardy of losing everything in the lab. In fact, somebody hit the "Jeopardy!" music because it's time for a commercial break.

Well, they got the power back up, but they're reserving their resources and using them very carefully. Water, for instance, will be reserved strictly for cooking and drinking until the situation has calmed down.

Mike plays "bad cop" with Quincy, explaining that he was a homicide cop on the South side of Chicago and he knows effective interrogation methods. Quincy isn't impressed. "Anything that doesn't serve a purpose is gone," Mike says. Quincy makes two requests before Mike leaves: sunlight and someone good to play chess with. Mike takes Quincy to Dr. Scott, to whom he lofts up a bunch of scientific mumbo jumbo. Looks like he's willing to play ball, after all.

Chung, one of the engineers, tells Chandler that the circuit breakers are completely worn out and the engines will not cool down. It's going to take a week to fix. They estimate that they've got 3,000 gallons of drinkable water remaining. Chandler informs his officers that they need to find a place to make port so they can get some fresh water and repair the broken engines. While they plot out their strategy, Chandler warns that on "day three, people start to die." Things aren't off to a great start, as, several scenes later, crew members complain that it is hot outside, but even hotter inside. They joke about sleeping outside, standing up, if necessary.

Flashback: As Chandler stares out into the stars, he remembers telling his children that, wherever they were, he would be looking out into that same sky. Sounds familiar, like a song I once knew as a child. "No matter what, we'll always be together, ok?" he tells them. His waxing melodramatic is interrupted by Dr. Scott, who gleefully announces that she's made a breakthrough and her vaccine prototype is ready to test.

[As our episode hits its half-way point, there's a Kirby Heyborne sighting! He's in a new Dish Network commercial. So nice to see him pushing non-alcoholic products again. Just like the good old days.]

The relay switch has overheated and the breakers on the final generator are now beyond repair. Scott warns that if her samples go over 41 degrees, they will spoil and no longer be usable. Chung suggests that they throw the samples overboard to keep them cool in the depths of the ocean. They drop the samples into the water and the temperature dramatically settles in at 40 degrees. Everyone lets out a collective sigh of relief.

Chandler is concerned that, without winds blowing in to generate enough power to steer the ship, the crew might be in grave danger. Jeter, a religious man who doubles as a preacher on the ship, gives the commander a pep talk about faith and hope, assuring his leader that the crew trusts him and his vision. In the adjacent scene, Jeter leads a sermon with a circle of crew members, and, miraculously, a wind begins to blow and Chandler's faith is rejuvenated. The crew launches a trio of parachutes into the air, which somehow gets the propeller to the ship spinning. The propeller generates power and all is well, it seems.

The crew has now been two days without water. One monotonous crew member sends out a tedious radio broadcast searching for help. Jeter reports that 10 more shipmates have fallen ill. Chandler laments that the ship's course has taken more time than anticipated. Scott attends to sick members of the crew and Foster awkwardly asks to sit by Danny and Tex.

In what undoubtedly takes the cake for the episode's dumbest line of dialogue, Lt. Granderson identifies three seagulls as "low, slow-flying objects." Mike astutely points out that "birds mean land." Chandler hoists his binoculars and spots an island straight ahead. Land, ho! Looks like the Nathan James will be getting some much-needed H2O.

After a commercial break, we return to what appears to be an episode of "Baywatch." Or is it the long-anticipated reunion of Cap'n Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters? It's hard to tell exactly what it is that we're watching, but it looks a heck of a lot like Spring Break. All we're missing is a sand volleyball court. The entire crew has gone ashore and they're passing around blue Solo cups. If red cups = alcohol, blue cups have got to mean fresh water. Geez. Did Jeter teach them about the Word of Wisdom or something or were they all just really dehydrated?

Hula party with Tex! Danny thinks about approaching Foster, but she's found a strapping new boyfriend, by the looks of it. Jealousy ensues. And so does an acoustic concert around the fire, apparently. These hippies are way too peaceful. I miss the Russians.

Meanwhile, back on the ship, Quincy comes to the realization that he didn't get invited to sing Kumbaya with everybody else. But he does get to play chess with a very unhappy Black guy named Bacon.

And that's it. We end the episode with Scott thanking Chandler as he listens to the radio and thinks about his family. No big cliffhanger. Just a giant beach party and the loneliest chess match of all time.

--

What we learned:

• Tex likes chicks.
• Dr. Scott has a vaccine prototype that's ready to test.
• Chandler misses his family.
• The crew is partying on the beach. And that never ends well.

--

Your thoughts? I felt like this episode was a real let-down after last week's show, which I thought was a real step in the right direction. Was that episode kind of lame, or was it just me?

Well, hey... As was teased at the end of the night, there are other people on the island. SHOCKER. Like, who didn't see that one coming? At least that will give us some action to look forward to next week. Looks like the natives aren't going to take very kindly to strangers. And, lastly, what did you guys think about that Kirby Heyborne commercial? Leave a comment below - if you dare!! - and we'll catch you next Sunday for a new, hopefully better episode of "The Last Ship."

Salt Lake Comic Con announces guests from Arrow, Big Bang Theory

I didn't realize so many people would be there. But hey, when you offer free multi-passes for people who show up in costume, I guess that's what happens.

Salt Lake Comic Con held press conference at the Leonardo in Salt Lake City this morning to update their fans on a few things and, more importantly, to announce another handful of celebrity guests. I made my way to the north side of the crowded lobby, which was packed with Comic Con enthusiasts (most of them in costume). A few minutes after 11:00 a.m., Salt Lake Comic Con co-founders Dan Farr and Bryan Brandenburg headed to the pulpit to address the big crowd, accompanied by thunderous applause.

"Tell me how you really feel," Brandenburg joked before thanking some of the convention's sponsors, which include Rocky Mountain Chevrolet, Marvel and Dark Horse Comics.

Brandenburg announced that the event's organizers are anticipating upwards of 120,000 people in attendance for the September convention, which will run from September 4-6 this fall. In April, Salt Lake Comic Con's FanXperience shattered its own attendance record, drawing an estimated 100,000 fans, making it the third largest Comic Con event in the United States. Brandenburg expects there to be nearly 200 panels to go along with 250 special guests and panelists, including celebrity guests, artists, and vendors. Brandenburg mentioned that the September Comic Con will expand its space, utilizing more downtown venues and ensuring that the convention will not "be nearly as crowded as our first event last year, certainly."

 The Salt Lake Comic Con Film Festival will also be expanded in comparison with last year's function. "Our goal is to be right up there with Sundance," Brandenburg said. The festival will be held during Comic Con weekend and hosted at the Gateway mall downtown.

The popular KidCon pavillion, which was introduced in April, is back this fall, providing family-friendly entertainment for families and young attendees. Another returning event will be the Zombie Walk, which Brandenburg announced will be held on August 10. More detailed announcements about these events will be rolled out via social media in the next few weeks.

Brandenburg passed the mic to Farr, who thanked the crowd for their patience in awaiting new guest announcements. Previously, Farr and his team had announced the convention's initial celebrity lineup which included names like Christopher Lloyd ("Back to the Future"), Cary Elwes ("The Princess Bride"), and Ernie Hudson ("Ghostbusters"). Since the last press conference, several more names had been announced on social media, such as Eliza Dushku ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Michael Rosenbaum ("Smallville"), and Giancarlo Esposito ("Breaking Bad").

In recent days, Salt Lake Comic Con had teased fans with several hints that stars from CW's "Arrow" and CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" would be announced at the press conference. A brief highlight package introduced the next batch of stars that are headed to Utah this fall:

• Jon Heder ("Napoleon Dynamite")
  
• Stephen Amell ("Arrow")
  

  
• Manu Bennett ("Arrow")
  
• Dean O'Gorman ("The Hobbit")
  
• WETA Workshop (special effects, "Lord of the Rings")
  
• Simon Helberg ("The Big Bang Theory")
  

In an interview with Signs of the Times, Farr expressed his excitement for September's convention. "I am so excited just to see the fans' reaction when we have the event," he said. But, in typical Dan Farr fashion, he remained somewhat tight-lipped about which stars he, personally, is most excited about.

"That's always a tough question because I get excited about all of them," Farr said. "Even if it's someone that I haven't followed before, if I know that the fans are excited, then I get excited about it."

He mentioned that he has never really gotten into the ultra-popular BBC show, "Doctor Who," but he always looks forward to booking stars from the show because he understands how beloved those characters are to fans of pop culture. Karen Gillan, known for her role as the Doctor's companion, Amy Pond, appeared at FanX in April - and even stuck around to catch a Mormon Tabernacle Choir performance that Sunday.

"I'm almost afraid to start watching it," Farr said of the BBC series. "I know that, with my personality, I'll get so embedded in it that I'll have another addiction."

Farr said that he and his Comic Con team have learned a lot since their first convention in 2013 and that they continue to evolve as time goes on. "We're always learning," he said. "We're trying new things. We attend a lot of other conventions, as well, to see what they're doing. A lot of things, as far as organization at the con, [we've improved in] that area. The biggest thing is just finding out what people are attracted to - what they like. What is it that people want to come see? ... That's the most I've learned."

For those that are keeping track, the record-setting Salt Lake Comic Con returns in 57 days and 21 hours. Tickets are on sale now at saltlakecomiccon.com. And, as always, more information about the convention and its star-studded lineup of celebrity guests can be found by following Salt Lake Comic Con on Facebook and Twitter. To read the press release from this morning's event, click here.

The Last Ship: The third recap

Warning: SPOILERS for the third episode of "The Last Ship" ("Dead Reckoning") to follow. Ye be warned.

When last we left "The Last Ship":

• The intrepid crew of the U.S.S. Nathan James was looking for the cure to the mysterious and deadly virus.
• After a fiery standoff at Guantanamo Bay, the crew has a new member - Tex.
• Dr. Scott has regained some of the crew's trust after saving a wounded shipmate. Quincy, on the other hand, seems like a scoundrel. (I predicted that he would die this episode, but his information on the IMDb page has now been updated from "3 episodes" to "5 episodes." Dang.)
• A Russian ship has their sights on our beloved crew... and they're after "the doctor."

So the Russian ship we encountered during last week's cliffhanger starts off the episode by making some pretty bold demands. They know that the Nathan James has the primordial strain and they want it, along with Dr. Scott and all of her research. Commander Chandler bluffs, saying that he doesn't know what the Russian admiral is talking about - plus, Chandler is American and he doesn't take orders from Russians. The Russian admiral, who apparently wrote a book that Chandler had aboard, threatens to nuke the Americans, just like he did "to France" in the first episode. (Remember the mushroom cloud?) Chandler requests to meet face-to-face in hopes of negotiating a resolution to their situation.

In a couple quick scenes, we see Chandler asks whether any scientist with the primordial strain would be able to create a vaccine, then asking to "borrow" Quincy; Tex joins the team in full armor and jokes about alcohol; and Chandler mentions that the Russian admiral, whose name turns out to be Ruskov, "literally wrote the book on modern naval warfare."

Equipped with gas masks, Chandler and a few guards meet with the Russians, who claim they are not infected. Chandler's team keeps their masks on, regardless. Quincy runs a quick test which apparently verifies that the Russians are free from the disease.

Elsewhere, the Russians are unloading mines into the water. All the while, Adam "Mike" Baldwin is watching them from the bridge - and he's not scared to unload a few rounds, if necessary. He also gives us the most glorious quote of the season, thus far: "Mines... I hate freakin' mines."

The meeting of the minds remains a virtual standstill, as the Russians try a power play, claiming to be the last Soviet ship in existence, but Chandler isn't budging. He offers a small sample of the primordial virus, but refuses to turn over Dr. Scott and her research. Ruskov says Chandler will not be able to create a vaccine without one final ingredient that only the Soviets possess, but Chandler isn't having it. As he stands up to leave, he taunts Ruskov by asking how he and his crew will survive if the Americans have all the food. The admiral takes a gun, kills one of his guards, and says, "One less mouth to feed."

Back on-board the Nathan James, Dr. Scott tells Chandler that Ruskov is lying about the final ingredient, Quincy sneaks some test tubes, and the crew plots a way to escape the harbor without disturbing the Russian mines. A couple US scuba divers are shot down while looking for a way around the mines.

After a commercial break, the Americans fire a warning shot at a Russian boat and Chandler busts out some Russian, to the approval of his shipmates. The Russians agree to shut down their weapons and leave the harbor, but they want Dr. Scott and her research within 24 hours. Or else.

Later that night, Quincy grabs Dr. Scott at gun point and orders her to jump off the ship. She hesitates, like any smart woman would, and eventually breaks free, leading to a brief chase scene around the ship, which ends up right smack-dab in the middle of a bunch of shipmates. Quincy threatens to open one of the vials he was sneaking, which would infect and kill everyone on the ship. He admits to have been in cahoots with the Russians, who he says promised not to kill Scott if she came willingly. He finally backs down, gives up the test tube, and get handcuffed.

Dr. Scott tells Chandler that Quincy formerly studied in Russia and has friends there, but Quincy tells Mike that he had never met Admiral Ruskov until yesterday. This leads us to another brilliant zinger by Adam Baldwin - "So what were you two? Like, Facebook friends?" Awesome. In this interrogation scene, we learn a couple things. Maybe. You never know with Quincy, that rat. But anyway...

• Quincy says that his daughter is a prisoner on the Russian ship.
• He says that governments were getting scientists to withhold information during the outbreak that could have lead to the possible creation of a vaccine.
• He shared information with a Russian scientist who has since died. They had been communicating through sat-phone up until his death. One day, Quincy called the number and Admiral Ruskov answered, instead.
• The admiral killed the scientist friend and captured Quincy's family, which is now being held hostage.
• Quincy was supposed to take Scott and the samples to the Russians. There was a boat waiting for him to use.

Well, it's apparently true. Quincy's wife (who is WAY more attractive than him, by the way) is being held on the Russian ship. The admiral offers her drinks and semi-hits on her. Creep.

Chandler and his crew begin plotting a way out of the harbor and he asks one of the female officers (Lieutenant Foster) to join him on the mission because they need a female on the team. Foster's secret boyfriend, Danny, with whom she was briefly shown in a supply closet in Episode 1, objects to her leaving the ship. He wants to go, too. And they say chivalry is dead.

The crew of the Nathan James initiates a last-minute DIY project teaching TV-watching Americans how to make strips of aluminum foil look like a naval destroyer on a radar screen. Doesn't look too difficult. Add that to my to-do list for this week. "Time to disappear," Chandler says. Like a boss.

Got it. They needed Foster to go on the mission because she and Danny are running as decoys for Scott and Quincy. Got it... Those tricky Americans. By golly, they've done it. Oh gosh, they've got rockets. They're going to blow the Russians back to where they came from. The Russians realize that it's not Quincy and Scott when the small boat speeds up instead of going in for a slow approach. Lt. Foster and Danny whip out some semi-automatics and take out a few of the Russian guards, then bail into the water. By then, it's too late. The boat crashes into the Russian ship and explodes.

After a narrow escape, the U.S.S. Nathan James is on its way out of the shallow, coral-laden harbor, safe and sound with no apparent damage to the ship. On the other hand, the Russian hull was breached, they're taking on water, and at least a dozen of their men are dead. But the Russians, although duped by the tin foil radar scheme, live to fight another day.

While the vast majority of Nathan James-ers are quietly celebrating their death-defying escape, Foster and Danny are having a little spat. Danny is upset because his emotions for her got in the way, delaying their mission, and almost costing Commander Chander and company their lives. Frustrated, he tells her that this is why... He can't finish the sentence, but he would have said that this is why they're not supposed to date fellow crew members. He drops the "I-L-Y" bomb and then tells her to stay away from him before stomping off in a fit of anger. So much for that whole "chivalry" thing, I guess.

Chandler asks Quincy if Ruskov had a back-up plan. Quincy doesn't know. Quincy gets upset at Chandler for apparently having killed his family. Chandler shouts back, "No, YOU killed your family." After a heated exchange, Quincy demands to know what Chandler would have done, had he been placed in that same position. Chandler storms out of the room without saying another word.

Back on the Russian ship, we await our cliffhanger. Ruskov heads down to a lab very similar to the one that Scott and Quincy are running on the Nathan James. There is a man working in the lab. He seems frustrated with his work, especially now that the Soviets did not apprehend Dr. Scott. The scientist chases after a small, white lab rat, which he catches with some difficulty. He tells Ruskov that he hates the way his men look at him - like some type of circus attraction. He tells the admiral that he needs Scott and some of the primordial strain, and Ruskov walks away. The scientist holds up the rat, which struggles to escape. It looks, for a moment, like the man is preparing to eat the rat, but what he does is, perhaps, even more strange. He breathes on the rat, fogging up the camera. And that's all we get for this week!

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What we learned:

• Some of what Quincy told Chandler appears to be true - his family (or at least his wife) appears to be on board the Russian ship.
• The Russians nuked France. Also, Ruskov's intel gave us a little bit more insight into how devastating the virus was.
• The Russian ship is not totally out of commission. This is not the last we've seen of them.
• There is another scientist working actively for the Russians - and he likely needs a breath mint.

--

So... what did you think? What questions do you have? Whose side is Quincy on? Whose side is Quincy's wife on? And is that Russian scientist Quincy's friend who he presumed to be dead? It looks like the crew of the Nathan James is in trouble next week - and so is the engine room. Should be interested!

I liked this episode. Now that we've gotten most of the exposition and background story out of the way, we can now focus on characters and action. I thought Baldwin's dialogue tonight was hilarious, at times, and I am really starting to like the Chandler character. So far, I think this was the best episode of the series.

But what did you think? Sound off in the comments section below. Or not. Whatever.

Looking for some hidden treasure? Netflix marks the spot.

I have a problem. It only happens in the summer starting around May and ending sometime in August/September. It’s called television withdrawal. As soon as my favorite shows start ending their seasons, I’m faced with one question. The question that will haunt me for the entire summer: What do I watch now? For many years, there was no answer. My summer nights were filled with movie watching and reruns.  Then along came Netflix and the question was answered.

In the past few years, Netflix has been building their streaming library and I for one am continually grateful that they have. Now I have a vast number of movies and television shows at just the click of a button. But there still remains one problem. How do you search through the vast library to find something that is actually good? Let me help you with that. Here are five shows that I recently discovered that deserve your attention.

5. The Intouchables

If you’re not afraid to read subtitles, then give this movie a try. The Intouchables tells the true story of a rich quadriplegic man who hires an ex-con to be his caretaker. As the ex-con learns to care for this man with whom he has nothing in common, a friendship develops that makes them inseparable. Fully of witty humor and heart-warming moments, this is a great feel good movie.

4. Much Ado About Nothing

If you’re like me, you’ve been brought up on Shakespeare’s plays. And, if you are also like me, you love them but have a hard time sitting through them. This movie is your answer. Seriously you can’t go wrong with a William Shakespeare play directed by Joss Whedon. This movie feels like a bunch of friends got together one day and decided to make a movie. Ironically, that is exactly what happened. This movie was filmed in about 12 hours at Joss’ house. The actors completely succeed in bringing this play to life.

3. Crossing Lines

I have a confession. I love crime dramas. I also love people with accents. This discovery was a match made in heaven for me. The premise of this show is a group of detectives from various law enforcement agencies around the world gather together and solve crimes that cross international borders. This is a fun and interesting new take on the crime drama genre. The only downfall is that only the first season is available on Netflix right now. Oh well, at least there is something to look forward to.

2. Royal Pains

I know that everyone loves a good medical drama, but sometimes you just need something a little lighthearted. This show is a great compromise. The story focuses on an up-and-coming ER doctor who is fired from his job in the big city. His last minute trip to the Hampton's becomes a permanent stay when he becomes a Concierge Doctor to the rich and famous. Hilarity ensues.

1. Doctor Who

Could there be any other show as my top pick? This may not seem like hidden treasure, but it was for me. Let me just tell you that when I first watched Doctor Who I thought it was the weirdest show I had ever seen. But, once I got past the first couple episodes I was hooked. I mean what could be better than a two-hearted alien who travels through time and space in his blue police box shaped ship (aka the TARDIS) and takes human companions along for the ride. This is a thrilling ride for all ages.

There you go. My five top picks. What about you? Do you have any great new discoveries on Netflix? If so, let me know in the comments so I can check them out.