Star Trek: The Most Toys

Episode: "The Most Toys"

Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Season 3, Episode 22

Original Air Date: May 7, 1990

via Memory Alpha

Data is kidnapped by novelty collector Kivas Fajo (Saul Rubinek).  The Enterprise crew believes their friend died so it takes a while before they realize the foul play.  Determined not to play Fajo's game, Data engages in passive resistance rather than submitting to his captor's whims.  Naturally, Fajo is infuriated.

"The Most Toys" is a popular choice for favorite episodes but I'm not so keen.  I find Fajo grating.  It's too bad because I generally like Rubinek quite a lot.  We grew to be fans of his courtesy of his recurring role on A Nero Wolfe Mystery.  The story's most interesting moment comes near the end as Data is finally rescued via transport beam.  At that last instant, did he intend to kill Fajo or not?  Writer Shari Goodhartz and Brent Spiner both believe he did.  The producers insisted on greater ambiguity.

Acting Notes

via Lostpedia

Saul Rubinek was born July 2, 1948 in Föhrenwald, Germany.  His parents were Polish Jews who survived the Holocaust in hiding on a Polish farm.  They emigrated to Canada not long after Saul's birth.  

Like William Shatner, Rubinek cut his teeth at the Stratford Festival in Ontario.  He rose to prominence in the Toronto theatre scene, co-founding the Canadian Stage Company.  He began working in the US in 1970.

Film credits are impressive, including Wall Street, Bonfire of the Vanities (which he began shooting immediately after "The Most Toys"), True Romance and Unforgiven.  In television, he was a regular on both Warehouse 13 and The Last Tycoon.  He had recurring roles on Frasier, Leverage and, as noted above, Nero Wolfe.

Squid Mixes: Submarino

A submarino combines tequila and beer.  Just as with the boilermaker, you fill a shot glass with tequila, then drop it into the beer glass.  I got the recipe from The New York Bartender's Guide.

While whiskey can make beer -  especially a lager - better, tequila definitely makes it worse.  I'm glad to have tried it but I won't be having it again anytime soon.

Bitters of the Month

We tried the plum bitters as a substitute for Angostura in a Manhattan.  There was a mere hint of something different in the aftertaste and in the aroma.  Basically, I think it would do in a pinch but isn't really worth keeping in the regular rotation. 

Marvel Immersion Project: Thor #351-356

My Recent Reads

Thor #351

Originally Published January 10, 1985

Writer and Artist: Walter Simonson

• Team Asgard/Avengers continues to battle Team Surtur in New York.  The good guys are losing until the 82nd Airborne shows up.
• Among those joining in the fight:

via Wikipedia

• The Einherjar, the spirits of those who have died in battle

via Wikipedia

• Tyr, one of Thor's brothers and, at least in traditional Norse mythology, the God of War.  Tuesday is named for Tyr.  For those keeping score at home, that's four days of the week named for Norse gods:
• Tuesday: Tyr's Day
• Wednesday: Odin's Day
• Thursday: Thor's Day
• Friday: Frigg's Day
• Surtur defeats Heimdall and shatters Bifrost, the rainbow bridge.
• He defeats Thor, too.  Now Odin alone defends Asgard.

Thor #352

February 10, 1985

Walter Simonson

• The battle continues on multiple fronts.

via Wikipedia

• Among others, Hercules lends his strength to the cause.
• Surtur defeats Odin and gets to the Eternal Flame to light his newly forged sword, Twilight.

Thor #353

March 10, 1985

Walter Simonson

• Not so fast, Surtur!  Loki hid the real flame and replaced it with an illusion.  
• In the broader battle of Asgard/Avengers vs. Fire Demons, the good guys finally win.

via Wikipedia

• Featured: She-Hulk
• Odin, Thor and Loki battle Surtur together.
• Odin and Surtur fall into the chasm of Muspelheim which seals behind them.
• Is the end of Odin???

Thor #354

April 10, 1985

Walter Simonson

via Wikipedia

• Having sensed Odin's passing, Hela - based on Hel, the Norse goddess of death - comes to claim him.  Thor fights her off.
• Thor leaves Asgard to confront his grief while wandering in the wilderness.  In spite, Hela kills his horse and Thor collapses in the snow.

via Marvel Database

• Featured: Titanium Man.

Thor #355

May 10, 1985

Writer: Simonson

Artist: Sal Buscema

• Thor is rescued by an enormous, powerful and clearly ancient man named Tiwaz.  Thor is convinced that his savior is Odin in disguise but Tiwaz convinces him otherwise.
• This is probably my favorite Thor issue so far - less brawling, more thoughtful reflection on Thor's role in both Asgard and Midgard (Earth).
• Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 is quoted: "To everything, there is a season..."
• After Thor leaves, Tiwaz reveals that he is, in fact, the thunder god's great-grandfather.

Thor #356

June 1, 1985

Bob Harras/Jackson Guice

• While out on a walk in Central Park, Hercules and Jarvis encounter a group of young boys.  Hercules regales them with a clearly fictional tale of a great battle between Thor and himself.
• It's a light story - much needed after the heavy Surtur tale.
• Hercules also tells of his mythological tasks, including the stories of...

via Greek Myth Wikia

• Hydra

via Wikipedia

• The Bull of Crete

via Wikipedia

• Cerberus

via Mythology wiki

• Atlas

Star Trek: Hollow Pursuits

Episode: "Hollow Pursuits"

Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Season 3, Episode 21

Original Air Date: April 30, 1990

via Memory Alpha

It's a Barclay episode!

Lt. Reginald Barclay (Dwight Schultz) doesn't seem to be working out on the engineering staff.  He's socially awkward, constantly late and seemingly incompetent.  LaForge and Riker both want him transferred off the ship but Picard challenges Geordi to befriend the man and see if he can bring him around.

Barclay is one of the best recurring characters on Next Gen.  He is Trek's walking, talking cautionary tale.  In this episode, he's addicted to the holodeck, having created, among other programs, a Three Musketeers-scape in which all of the other characters are played by members of the crew.  Beverly is a fawning mother (or lover?).  Jean-Luc, Geordi and Data are a swashbuckling trio.  Will is a swordsman, too, though a diminutive one.  Deanna is the scantily-clad Goddess of Empathy.  All stand in awe of Barclay, a far more charismatic presence in this fantasy world.

The particular story is fair-to-middling but it's worth watching for Barclay.  

Acting Notes

via Memory Alpha

William Dwight Schultz was born November 24, 1947 in Baltimore.  He attended Towson University.  He made his breakthrough as Captain Murdock on The A-Team.  Film appearances include The Fan, Fat Man and Little Boy and a cameo in The A-Team movie.  

Squid Cooks: Æbleskivers

As mentioned in previous posts, most recently this one, my paternal grandmother was Danish.  For our family, the most important culinary element of that heritage has been æbleskivers, best described as ball-shaped pancakes.  Growing up, they were my favorite breakfast though worth noting, the only time my grandmother herself made them for us, they were served with dinner.  One Christmas several years ago, my father bought an æbleskiver pan for each household in our family along with a small packet of Danish recipes copied from the web - specific sites long forgotten.  That was probably at least 10 years ago.  At most, we've made them three times in the years since and that's a generous estimate.

If they're so good, why not make them more often?  Well, in truth, they're kind of a pain to make - or at least we all think of it as being a pain.  The trick is knowing when to flip them over and then how long to let them finish.  Too long and they'll burn, too short and they won't cook all the way through.  Then there's the act of turning them over without slopping the batter.  And what's the right implement?  A knitting needle is traditional.  I prefer long cooking chopsticks.  Usually, the first batch is a disaster, a sacrifice to the culinary gods.

As part of our COVID Christmas celebration, my wife suggested an æbleskiver breakfast/brunch over Zoom with our three households: ours in Vermont, my parents' in DC and my sister's in California.  As the primary Dane at our house, it fell to me to cook.

Shockingly, all went just fine, even the first batch.  Our soup spoons are the perfect size to scoop.  I didn't burn anything.  I didn't slop too much batter - in fact, learning to live with the imperfection of the process was a good thing.  They all got cooked through.  Really, they were lovely.  I might start doing this all the time!

Yup, totally jinxed myself.  I'm willing to risk it.  As with the Dickens reading, I'd be inclined to make this an annual tradition.

It was a Danish Christmas all around.  I got LEGOs, too:

Marvel Immersion Project: Thor #345-350

My Recent Reads

Thor #345

Originally Published July 10, 1984

Writer and Artist: Walter Simonson

• The story of the Casket of Ancient Winters begins.
• Korean War vet Roger Willis is told of the casket.  He doesn't know what it is but he's been charged with protecting it with his life.
• Thor arrives, having broken a date with Melodi across town in order to help.
• Malekith wants the casket, too, and kills Eric, Roger's eternally youthful father, in the pursuit.

Thor #346

August 10, 1984

Walter Simonson

• Roger finds the casket on an abandoned stretch of the West Side Highway and is almost immediately attacked by Malekith and the Hounds of the Hunter.  Thor helps to fend them off.  The Hounds' weakness: iron.
• Back at Melodi/Lorelei's apartment, Thor finally drinks her enchanted golden mead and is compelled to fall in love with her.
• Unfortunately, the Melodi in attendance is not the real thing but an animated stock of wood.  The real Melodi/Lorelei has been kidnapped by Malekith.
• To get her back, Thor must bring the casket to the Cotswalds of England.

Thor #347

September 10, 1984

Walter Simonson

• Thor and Roger head to the Cotswalds to rescue Melodi.
• Thor battles Algrim.  Malekith sends both into a bottomless chasm.
• Meanwhile, Malekith blinds Roger (fortunately, only temporarily).

via Wikipedia

• Back in Asgard, Balder meets the Norns.

Fandral, Volstagg and Hogun via Wikipedia

• Odin summons the Warriors Three - Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg - and commands that they prepare forces for war.  He senses that Surtur is about to attack.

Thor #348

October 10, 1984

Walter Simonson

• Thor and Roger defeat Malekith, but not before Malekith destroys the casket.
• Surtur enters our realm and Asgardian forces brace for war.

Thor #349

November 10, 1984

Walter Simonson

• The shattering of the casket causes unseasonable cold in Midgard, a winter experienced in other Marvel publications at the time which is kinda cool (pun intended).
• Roger suspects Melodi/Lorelei's enchantment of Thor but through a separate spell, she prevents him from telling Thor.
• Odin tells the history of the struggle against Surtur, the story that begins his own rise to power as ruler of Asgard.
• Beta Ray Bill is summoned to Asgard to help in the coming battle.

Thor #350

December 10, 1984

Walter Simonson

• Odin summons all of the Norse gods and goddesses to aid in the battle against Surtur, including:

via Wikipedia

• Hermod, based on Hermóðr, the messenger of the gods

via Marvel Database

• Skurge the Executioner

via Villains Wiki

• Amora the Enchantress
• Thor enlists the help of the Avengers, including Captain Marvel (new alias: Monica Rambeau), Scarlet Witch, Starfox and the Wasp.

Monica Rambeau via Wikipedia

Starfox via Wikipedia

• All but Odin and Heimdall go to New York to fend off Surtur and his minions.  Odin and Heimdall remain to defend Asgard.
• Surtur breaks through when Bifrost is revealed, a result of the freak winter storm.
• To be continued...

Star Trek: Tin Man

Episode: "Tin Man"

Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Season 3, Episode 20

Original Air Date: April 23, 1990

via Memory Alpha

The Enterprise welcomes the Betazoid Tam Elbrum (Harry Groener) aboard.  Elbrum is highly telepathic, even by Betazoid standards.  Together, our friends investigate a bio ship life form currently hanging out near a star about to go supernova.  Complicating matters further, the Romulans get involved.

"Tin Man" isn't in the top tier for Season 3 but it has strong moments, enough to warrant an Emmy nomination for Visual Effects.  Groener is good: highly annoying from the get go, though undoubtedly intentionally.  We gain greater sympathy for him over time.  The ending is surprisingly touching, including some meaningful new awareness for Data.  Plus, of course, I'm a sucker for any and all Wizard of Oz allusions.

Acting Notes

via Wikipedia

Groener was born September 10, 1951 in Augsburg, Germany, both of his parents accomplished musicians.  His family emigrated to the United States when he was two years old.  He apprenticed with the San Francisco Ballet as a teenager then studied drama at the University of Washington.

His musical theater credentials are impressive, including three Tony nominations for Oklahoma!, Cats (he was the original Munkustrap, the narrator) and Crazy for You.  His best known television role was Mayor Wilkins in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  He was also a regular on Dear John and made two appearances as the Secretary of Agriculture on The West Wing.  This is his first of four Trek appearances.