Month: February 2021

1) “Star Trek: Discovery” first-season finale, 10 p.m., CBS. Here’s what the previous 14 episodes have led to – an attempt to end the fierce war with the Klingons. Burnham (shown here) is in a tiny landing party with Ash (who still has memories as a Klingon) and Georgiou (whose intentions are iffy). The result has high stakes, great visuals and excessive violence against a helpless prisoner. It also has stiff dialog; you get that when your main character was raised by Vulcans. The next seasons are already on CBS All Access. Read more…

1) “Chicago Fire,” 9 p.m., NBC. Drama often works best when people are wedged into tight spaces – a jury room, a lifeboat, a quarantine room … and, in this case, a freight elevator. After a couple minutes, this terrific episode becomes a four-person play. David Eigenberg (shown here, at his bar in a previous episodes) has some great moments here as Herrmann; he and Joe Minoso (as the stoic Cruz) are trapped there with two civilians, well-played by Baize Buzan and Brian King. Basically filmed non-stop, it’s a sharp and involving hour. Read more…