Favorite Deep Space Nine Episodes: Q-less

Greetings travelers of the Trek and welcome to Day 1 of Favorite Deep Space Nine Episodes. I really need to come up with smaller titled weeks. Today we journey to episode 6 of Season 1 of Deep Space Nine as antiquarian/archaeologist Vash (Jennifer Hetrick of Unsub, L.A. Law, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Bodies of Evidence, Profit and Buffy the Vampire Slayer) was given a lift from the Gamma Quadrant that is unheard of as no human has traveled to these remote areas outside of Commander Sisko's Federation collective. Perhaps she had other means of travel. This is Q-less.

Oh deep down you knew I would hit every show.

A month into repairs, updates and check, DS9 is finally running above and beyond its capabilities..replicators fritz not withstanding. Lt. Dax (Terry Farrell of Back to School, Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Becker and Gleason) provides a mysterious passenger save haven back to the station with only Chief O Brien (Colm Meaney of The Snapper, Star Trek: The Next Generation, War of the Buttons, Con Air, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Renegade, Stargate: Atlantis and ZOS: Zone of Separation) to recognize the passenger as Vash. A former love interest of Captain Picard of the Enterprise who went off to explore ancient civilizations with none other than..Q. (John de Lancie of Days of Our Lives, Houston: The Legend of Texas, Taking Care of Business, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Legend, Star Trek World Tour, Planscape:Torment, Stargate SG-1, Star Trek: Voyager and Charmed) that omnipotent pain in Picard's posterior has made his way over to torture the Starfleet staff of DS9 and get Vash back.

Vash links up with Quark ( Armin Shimerman of Brooklyn Bridge, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Stargate SG-1, Dark Cloud 2, Onimusha 3: Demon Siege and Rachet: Deadlocked) the humble bartender/confidant trickster/smuggler/card shark and scoundrel that manages with his vast level of connections to prep an auction for some of the items Vash has lifted off worlds of the Gamma Quadrant. With most of these former civilizations gone and no one to lay claim to them, they will be sold to the highest bidder.

Quark is admiring her figure....of numbers that lines his pocket.

Sisko (Avery Brooks of Spenser for Hire, A Man Named Hawk, Roots: The Gift, Spenser: The Judas Goat, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, 15 Minutes and Star Trek: Legacy) has to deal with the station going through strange power drains and even the station being pulled from orbit heading to the natural wormhole.

The clock is ticking, Q is being petulant and lives are hanging in the balance, Sisko and crew must decipher what is the cause and how to correct it. Q is especially annoying for this episode so enjoy that.

A few bits of trivia now. This is John de Lancie's one and only visit to the Deep Space Nine sets and crew. Writer Robert Hewitt Wolfe (Futuresport, Andromeda, The 4400, The Dresden Files, Riverworld and The Alphas) wrote the screenplay for this episode before it was confirmed he landed the writing staff gig for Deep Space Nine. Lucky fellow.

Dr. Bashir...boring for Starfleet.

Favorite Deep Space Nine Episodes

Howdy folks and welcome back for the week. Yes we are ready off to a rocky start as Monday got skipped altogether. Anyone reading this has a suggestion to regulate sleep patterns just a hitch better than I am already experiencing, PLEASE TELL ME. That being said I thought we would go back to TV as we cannot get enough of that. This time around I thought I would tackle another Roddenberry creation, a show that revolves around...well a world from an orbital platform or space station if you will. A show where they were not out exploring a brand new galaxy every week but rather alien life forms, phenomena, wonders and threats would crop up in their backyard.

Looks like ReinFair class rings.

I speak of course of the creation of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. We are in frontier territory as the planet Bajor has managed to fend off its oppressors the Cardasassians (So close to Kardashians, their mammalian/reptilian cousins), the fledgling government has reached out to the Federation for assistance in creating a recognized political and social infrastructure that they could defend themselves against any other would-be attackers and conquerors. Many of Bajor are divided on the Federation's involvement in their new developing government that Starfleet may not be as invited but they are here to stay... or rather until they get new orders saying otherwise.

The main attraction to this remote quadrant of space is a natural wormhole (a hypothetical connection between widely separated regions of both space and time) that can bring tourists, commerce, travelers and even powerful allies and enemies to Bajor's front door.

This week I want to share my favorite episodes of this seven year run series that was based in the timeline like as The Next Generation and Voyager. That being said, the episodes will of course span over these years, there will be spoilers for those that did not watch the series and continuity is not my cup of tea. More of a Gallifreian (DR. WHO REFERENCE) when it comes to telling tales so bear with me.

So out into that final frontier, that "Undiscovered Country" future that the Roddenberry projects were always about. Enjoy!

Projecting Mariah Carey into her skull.  You fiend!

Vampires Reborn: Dracula 2000

Back again for Day 4 of Vampires Reborn and today's title is very apt. The origin of the stories spoken and written brings about a different take on a character that hails from an age-old monster that haunts many dreams, fascinate others and terrifies several. A creature that lacks a reflection, has hatred of all things Christian and seems to have a vulnerability to silver. This is Dracula 2000.

Jeri Ryan as a vampire?? Hmm...

Deep in the heart of London, Matthew Van Helsing (Christopher Plummer of The Silent Partner, Murder by Decree, Highpoint, Dreamscape, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Dolores Claiborne and A Beautiful Mind) a descendant of the 19^th century country doctor that fought Dracula owns an antique shop working along side his protege Simon Sheppard (Jonny Lee Miller of Hackers, Trainspotting, Plunket & Macleane, Mindhunters, Endgame and Elementary) as they are about to close down for the holiday as Helsing's secretary Solina (Jennifer Esposito of Summer of Sam, Spin City, The Bachelor, Beyond the City Limits, Taxi, Samantha Who?, Blue Bloods and She's Funny That Way)needs a few signatures and she discretely shoots Simon down for a romantic getaway. That being said, Simon is off for the night and Matthew retires for the night. A cadre of thieves break into the Carfax Abbey building, bypass his security and head into a large catacombs but this was only the modern security. A few deadly traps killing a member of the crew and they still move on, stealing a silver coffin which the thieves assume is the treasure to be had.

You almost hit a mime!

Escaping with the goods with a flight to New Orleans, the coffin is opened releasing the prince of darkness himself, Dracula (Gerard Butler of Attila, Shooters, The Jury, Reign of Fire, 300, Gamer, How to Train Your Dragon and Olympus Has Fallen) who dispatches his would-be captors with ease and ended up crashing the plane outside of New Orleans.

Helsing gets on a plane and heads out for the crash-site, only to followed by Simon and then things get a bit kooky. Not having a CSI in this tiny town, the buddies were brought to a school only to release freshly made vampires. Simon quickly comes to terms that the monsters were real and helps end them. Matthew explains that he is actually Abraham and kept Dracula prisoner all these centuries, using Dracula's blood to prolong his life until he could figure a way to dispose of him forever.

Dracula bound by blood, seeks Helsing's daughter Mary (Justine Waddell of Great Expectations, Chaos, The Fall, Target and Killing Bono) as they are connected on a psychic level. Helsing and Simon must get to Mary before Dracula does and stop him as quickly as possible.

A few points of interest on the film. The name of Helsing's antique shop is named Carfax Abbey, the name of the house Dracula moved into in Stoker's novel. Actress/singer Vitamin C playing Lucy Westerman works in Virgin Megastore and you can clearly see one of her own albums on the rack. I noticed it seem we were less likely in London and more so in Toronto.

Not a brilliant movie but a new spin on an old thing. I have seen far lesser Dracula films and trust me on that.

So you are... gifted then?

Vampires Reborn: Subspecies IV: Bloodstorm

And a fine greetings to you all as we are back for Day 3 of Vampires Reborn. Hey, remember that Radu guy coming back from what appeared to be his final death? Well... he might just have been put back together yet again. Seriously, has no one learned to burn his body to ash and then scatter the ash to the four winds? Or dousing his ashes in holy water making a consecrated ash pie and tossing globs of Radu to the walls of the Vatican? Maybe keep the ashes in your impromptu Satanic knick knack shelf. Whatever the case of lack of forethought, the master has risen once again to torment Romania, claim his fledgling Michelle and cut a bloody swath through the lands. This is Bloodstorm: Subspecies IV

Bloody Robert Smith of the Cure stole my look.

Fleeing from the castle via Mercedes after bundling Michelle into a body bag our young heroes attempt another escape from this ancient evil only to it all in tears. The car has maybe made about 8 klicks from the castle (4.9 miles for the rest of of the American civvies) before crashing into a tree killing Mel, Rebecca and the poor abducted girl from the village leaving Michelle still in the boot (Trunk for the yanks again) via body bag.

Good samaritan and doctor Ana Lazar (Ioana Abur of Sherlock, Hellraiser: Deader, Offset, Pu-239, Ghouls and Mirrors) finds the wreck and proceeds to investigate finding the occupants to be dead with the exception of Michelle and brings her to a nearby clinic ran by a colleague and mentor Dr. Niculescu (Mihai Dinvale of Return from Hell, Trancers 4: Jack of Swords, Dark Angel: The Ascent, Trancers 5: Sudden Deth and Vampire Journals). The good creeper er um doctor immediately recognizes Michelle as a child of the night and embarks on finding out about her sire. With an extremely burnt Radu attempting to heal up from the direct sunlight, our favorite sadist/dribbler and all around baddie has risen again, healed by his blood golems/gnomes/creatures that reside in him via magic as he looks for his fledgling, carrying with him the relic Bloodstone. Best to check in with a few of the kids he has made over the years... and by years I mean centuries.

Cold grave!! 

Leaving Castle Vladislav, Radu makes his way to Bucharest to lay claim to the holdings and wealth that his former fledglings Ash (Jonathon Morris of The Prisoner of Zenda, The Practice, Bread, The Fantasticks, Vampire Journals and Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm), a being of some centuries old and used to being the master of his town, getting his way and ruling his power base. Radu has now kicked in his door metaphorically and demands sanctuary.

Dr. Niculescu is also a vampire using his scientific knowledge to cure himself of vampirism but the blood thirst is still within him hoping that Michelle can lead him to the Bloodstone that might be the key to finishing his work. Ana still concerned where Niculescu's intentions lie, she checks in on Michelle as Radu has figured where his "child" has gone off to due to their psychic connection.

Will Niculescu be able to fend Radu off? Can the Bloodstone be the cure all it appears to be? Will Michelle ever be free of Radu??

My only real complaint to this film is the interlinking of Vampire Journals and Subspecies 4 given a continuity error. Ash had claimed the Sword of Laertes from Zachary via Vampire Journals when after capture he dispatched Ash and got the blade back...so Ash has his unlife holding the blade and Radu lays claim to it. Very minor nitpick because it actually blends well the rest of the series.

Kevin Spirtas and Melanie Shatner were both unavailable to come back for this sequel as this was continued 6 years later but again director Ted Nicolaou pulled it off.

Sloppy eater?  What do you mean?

Vampires Reborn: Bloodlust: Subspecies III

Welcome back for Day 2 of Vampires Reborn and I feel a sequel is on the rise. No, not psychic but I did see the write-up idea jotted down so I have an in. Today's feature plays catch up with the thrilling vampiric adventure of yesterday so I know of what I speak and what I speak is more dribbling of spittle and blood as Radu makes his repugnant way back to the screen. This can only mean one thing...that he is a bit miffed. This is Bloodlust: Subspecies III.

Good luck not getting catacomb lice like me!  Sleep tight!

Following right after the events of Michelle's (Denise Duff) betrayal of stabbing Radu (Anders Hove) in the face with the enchanted dagger that slew his father, Mummy (Pamela Gordon) takes Michelle's blood for a spell and pulls the dagger out of Radu, bringing him back to life or undeath...whatever. Rebbecca (Melanie Shatner) escapes this horrific adventure narrowly with the thanks of the now late Professor Popescu (Michael Denish of Bloodstone: Subspecies II, Bloodlust: Subspecies III, Vampire Journals and Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm) allowing her to run off and find American Consulate Mel (Kevin Spirtas) and Lt. Marin (Ion Haiduc) in figuring out their next move.

Mummy not so Dearest and Radu cast a spell of teleportation taking them out of the catacombs and back to Castle Vladislav and rest for the day. Back with Mel and Marin, Rebecca's story sounds like the rantings of a lunatic as they try to calm her down and take in what she is saying. Pleading to Mel to help her break into the castle and explaining that Radu is a true monster.

I think I have someone in my teeth.

Much to his disagreement, Mel contacts his buddy from the CIA, Bob (Michael Della Femina of Mandroid, The City, Italian Movie and City by the Sea) who is a muscle-bound, rock climbing gun nut. After a few days of planning and weapons gathering from the late professor's office, our fledgling heroes muster courage to face Radu and Mummy. Mummy does not care for Michelle nor Radu's affection for her. She warns Radu that Michelle will be his death.

Under the cover of day waning into dusk, Bob arms everyone including Marin who reluctantly joins the group to save Michelle.

Inside the castle, Radu and Michelle begin the roles of Master and apprentice as he unveils the powers and abilities of the vampire, including the feeding.

Will Mel, Rebbecca and Bob arrive in time to save Michelle? Will Radu bend her to his will? Is Mummy a Lich or a Mummy?

Shot back-to-back Bloodstone: Subspecies II but for some reason the extended film was broken up into two films as it will balance the costs. Full Moon Entertainment has producers on board and some that would jump ship so cutting down on x amount of time per movie became an issue with The Puppet Master 4 and 5 so logically the same happened with Subspecies II and III. Each pair was one long film cut into two films adding a few additional scenes for each latter sequel as well as 2 minutes of the prior film to give continuity.

Think Becky, what would Buffy do?

Vampires Reborn: Subspecies II: Bloodstone

Welcome to Vampires Reborn and I hope we have some fun this week. The tempatures are not very seasonal and constantly changing so that is a teensy bit baffling. That being said we make our way back to the ambicious duo Charles Band of Full Moon Pictures and Ted Nicolau where the series that brought them the most notation is underway and all we have to do is find out what is what. This is Bloodstone: Subspecies II

TURN DOWN THE FLOOD LAMPS!!!!

Picking up right where the original left off Radu (Anders Hove of Subspecies, Critters 4, The Silencer, Family Passions, Bloodstone: Subspecies II, Cagney & Lacey: The Return and Dark Horse) was staked and beheaded and one would normally come to the conclusion job well done (Personally, I would have burned the body and buried the head 60 some miles away from each other but that is just me) but his blood spawned stop motion creations manage to draw the carved oak stake from his chest while his head becomes fused with his spinal column once again. Yup, douse them in holy water, then kerosene and flame on! Arising from the final death nearing dawn, Radu stakes his brother Stefan and prepares to claim Stefan's lover Michelle (Now, Denise Duff of Martial Law II: Undercover, Silk Stalkings, Frogtown II, Dark Vengeance, The Silencing and Song of the Vampire) for his own but the sun rises in time and Michelle is safe for now. As she has been recently turned she was given the relic, the bloodstone for safe keeping. The stone that drips the blood of the saints and more than a drop or two is empowering.

Michelle rises to the night before Radu, flees the castle and hightails it back to the fort with relic in hand. In spite of Radu having to drag his carcass all the way upstairs from the dungeons, he checks on the clearly done for Stefan and cannot find the bloodstone. Michelle makes her way to Bucharest, checks into a hotel and calls directly home reaching her sister Rebecca (Melanie Shatner of Star Trek, Knots Landing, The First Power, The Alien Within, TekWar and Mercy Point) trying to explain the power Radu has over her and how she is changed. Rebecca trying to track Michelle down, must rely on both Lt. Marin (Ion Haiduc of Bloodlust: Subspecies III, Amen, Mimic: Sentinel, My Name Is Modesty: A Modesty Blaise Adventure and Vineri seara) and American Consulate Mel (Kevin Spirtas of The Hills Have Eyes Part II, Friday the 13^th Part VII: The New Blood, Valley of the Dolls, Voyeur II, Apt Pupil and Daredevil) to guide her around this ancient city and shed some light on what could have possibly happened to Michelle.

Yes, I am cliche wise professor of these vampire movies.

Radu in hot pursuit of Michelle, stops in to say hi to his "mummy" an ancient necromancer almost lich like creature hell bent on using the bloodstone herself and delights at the news of both the Vampire King and Stefan's death but is most vexed with Radu for not producing the bloodstone.

Will Rebecca reach Michelle in time while she still holds her humanity? Will Radu slay the countryside? Could Mummy be any more creepy?

It is unclear why Laura Mae Tate did not want to reprise her role as Michelle but honestly Denise Duff really brought life to that role as she was terrified, conflicted and experiencing changes of mind and body, you felt her fear. Hoves as Radu is slightly sadistic, alone because of his appearance being almost Nosferatu's Orlok and you almost feel sorry for him.

The atmosphere is eerie, the musical score chills you to the bone and the performances are pretty sound for a "B" movie. Bloodlust was intended to be all one movie but production was done up similar to Puppet Master 4 and 5 diced and added additional scenes, filmed back to back.

BEHOLD!! THE MAGUFFIN!!!!

Vampires Reborn

Well the holiday of Christmas will be rearing its head as Black Friday probably already had a kill and maim count and yes I did not go out for that VERY REASON. Festive films a plenty for the season. Some of these films are heartwarming, others are campy but sweet and then some are Made for TV movies with so much tripe cliches you will feel as though you have seen this film 20 to 30 times at length.

Can't imagine why Jake doesn't want to review flicks like mine.

So rather than breaking into some Frank Capra, I am reminded of one Vampire franchise that I have been neglecting for some time and that is the Subspecies series. Yes, you may have many a question is to why I would choose the holly jolly Christmas time to speak of abominations of nature that feed on the living in order to continue existing... Well corporation Christmas spending and such themes make it hard to enjoy Christmas at the fullest so we will just have to press on and do our level best to get the gifts, make the gifts and give thanks to those in our life that matter deeply to us and not worry about getting a TV really cheap at the expense of others' lives. Yeah Black Friday, I am not a fan.

I am touching base on this particular series for about 3 reasons. One, really do not want to read more comments on the Christmas themed Horror films and how could I watch that and so on. Two, really am a wee bit tired of clay motion jolly films I have seen to death so I want cut down on that for reviews and three, my brain is so lagged from different projects I simply could not come up with a thing for the week at all. I could have bugged all of you readers for input but you may or may not get back to me ASAP so this is what we got.

You all knew I would return...for the holidays!