Mark Ahern's Blog

Lisa got on her knees beside them and started bandaging Timothy’s head.

A horrific scene was unfolding all around Luke. The Troopers were falling quickly as Alachin’s tore through their bodies.

With Timothy having been taken out, discipline had been lost. The Troopers were no longer fighting as a coherent force.

Standing up, Timothy roared, “fall back to the tunnels.”

John understood. “Fall back.”

Troopers in their vicinity began an orderly retreat, forming a semicircle that reduced in size.

“John, we’ll have to carry him,” Luke said over the gunfire.

John nodded. “We should have told him to eat a few less calories.”

“Really, John? You joke at a time like this?” Luke replied aghast.

Between them, they lifted Timothy up and into the tunnel.

“What now?” Yvonne asked. Constant machine gun fire was holding the Alachins back, for now. “Wouldn’t Timothy want to die with his Troops?”

“You can die if you want, but I’m getting out of here,” John responded.

She didn’t respond,

Luke told some of the other Troopers to hold their ground.

Then they went as fast as they could. Lisa ran ahead. “I’ll open the hatch.”

Yvonne followed her. “And I’ll try to get it started.”

Lisa frowned. “Yes, everybody and everything they have ever known is under threat.”

Luke took her hand; her skin was soft.”Enough work talk when I have such a beautiful woman in front of me.”

She smiled. “So, you think I am beautiful? I feel the same way.”

Gasps went up from those around them.

The old bartender dropped one of the drinks he was carrying.

Luke turned his chair to look at the holographic display. It was in the indecipherable local language, but the images of the alien ships made it clear.

They have arrived.

Luke’s stomach turned. “I guess we’d better be making it back to our posts.”

“Yes,” Lisa replied. Her eyes fixated on what she saw before her. “But, first.”

She reached over, putting his face in her palms, and pressed her lips against his. “We’ll finish our date soon.”

Luke nodded, wishing they were somewhere other than a warzone.

They got up and parted ways.

Luke headed straight for his sentry point on the fortifications. Unsure what to expect, he thought every second would count. But it was more like a slow descent into hell.

Timothy’s bloodied head lay in front of him. He needed to stop the bleeding.

He walked up to the small, round wooden table and sat down beside her. She smelled of perfume.

A smile broke out across her face. “Fancy meeting you here? What are the chances?”

Luke grinned. “Finally, more like. So happy to finally get some time with you.”

She replied, her eyebrows raised, “Yes, you’ve been very busy, with trying to protect Timothy and everything.”#

After putting his hand up to signal the old barman that he wanted a drink, he replied, “Don’t talk to me about it. I’ve been waiting for that Jaime fella to do something, anything. Then, I could take him out, but nothing so far. I told John to keep an eye on things.

Lisa scrunched her face. “Timothy’s a goner, so!”

They both laughed.

The old bartender put down a drink on the table. He nodded his head and said, “On the house.” Then, he walked away.

Luke smirked. “What was that about?”

“He’s giving you a free drink for your service defending his planet – he did the same for me. There’s only one type of drink, though, and he doesn’t know much English.”

“It can’t be easy for the people here.” Luke looked at the man and could see the fear in his eyes.”

The sound of gunfire and bombs reverberated through Luke’s body. His hand was shaking. Around him, Alachins were breaching the fortification and ripping through the flesh of the defending Troopers. A few seconds ago, Timothy had ordered a retreat to the tunnels.

Another explosion. Closer this. His eyes bulged at the sight of Timothy and his battle chair flying through the air and then crashing to the ground.

He ran down the rampart. He saw that a burly Trooper had drawn his handgun and was walking towards Timothy.

It must be Jaime. No!

Luke raised his machine gun with one arm and opened fire, riddling the approaching Trooper forcing him to the ground in a pool of blood.

Racing to Timothy’s side, he was relieved to see John, Lisa, and Yvonne follow close behind.

Their time on the planet had been so different, only a few hours beforehand.

Luke had finally been given some hours off from sentry duty. But even better, Lisa would be off at the same time, and they had arranged to meet in a small tavern near the centre of the compound. The first time he could relax since he landed on the planet.

His pulse raced on seeing her. She was wearing a white dress and a top. Her hair was tied up in a bun.

As a fan of Sacha Baron Cohen, I thought I’d give this a watch. Ladies First is a 2026 American comedy film directed by Thea Sharrock. It is inspired by the 2018 French film I Am Not an Easy Man by Éléonore Pourriat. It stars Sacha Baron Cohen, Rosamund Pike, Charles Dance, Emily Mortimer, Tom Davis, Richard E. Grant, and Fiona Shaw.

It flips the script on a classic battle-of-the-sexes premise: an arrogant, chauvinistic ad exec wakes up in a parallel world where women hold all the power. It has some sharp moments and strong performances, but it often feels dated, heavy-handed, and stuck between wanting to be a silly comedy and a pointed social commentary.

Sacha Baron Cohen is reliably watchable as Damien Sachs, the swaggering ladies’ man who suddenly finds himself on the receiving end of casual sexism, catcalling, and workplace microaggressions. He leans into the physical comedy and bewildered reactions without over-relying on his usual outrageous personas, which keeps things relatively grounded. Rosamund Pike is excellent as Alex Fox, the formidable, no-nonsense counterpart who matches (and often exceeds) Damien’s former ruthlessness. Their chemistry crackles during the boardroom battles and awkward flirtations, and the supporting cast—including Charles Dance, Emily Mortimer, and Richard E. Grant—adds some British polish to the proceedings.

Unfortunately, the film can’t decide what it wants to be. It starts as broad farce, veers into rom-com territory, and ends with an earnest moral lecture that feels both preachy and toothless. The jokes are often painfully on-the-nose (the soundtrack choices alone scream “get it?”), and many of the gender-reversal gags feel like they were pulled from a 2000s self-help parody or an old SNL sketch. Critics are right to call it dated—it recycles ideas that felt fresh decades ago without adding much new insight.

The script (credited to Natalie Krinsky, Katie Silberman, and others) bludgeons its points rather than trusting the audience. By the time the inevitable romance subplot kicks in, the film loses whatever subversive edge it had.

Three stars from me, there are better ways to spend your time.

For those that have been missing Stranger Things, I have great news, the Duffy Brothers are back, at least as executive producers.

The Boroughs is an American science fiction television series created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews. It premiered on Netflix on May 21, 2026.

Set in the sun-drenched New Mexico desert, The Boroughs follows a picturesque retirement community that promises its residents the “time of their lives.” On the surface, it’s idyllic: golf carts, barbecues, lifelong friendships, and a sense of purpose in the golden years. But beneath that lies a sinister, otherworldly threat that’s literally stealing the one thing these retirees don’t have in abundance—time itself.

What starts as a seemingly light supernatural mystery evolves into a high-stakes battle for survival, blending creature-feature horror, clever sci-fi twists, and genuine human drama. The show excels at balancing Spielbergian wonder and scares with deep empathy for its characters’ experiences of aging, loss, friendship, and rediscovering purpose later in life. It’s never preachy or maudlin—it’s fun, propulsive, and often hilarious.

The all-star ensemble is the heart of the show. Alfred Molina shines as Sam Cooper, a grieving widowed engineer who’s reluctantly moved in after losing his wife. His journey from cynical outsider to determined hero is beautifully layered—funny, vulnerable, and heroic without ever feeling forced.

Geena Davis giving a stand out performance brings charisma and fire as Renee, while Alfre Woodard delivers gravitas and sharp wit as Judy. The supporting cast is equally fantastic: Denis O’Hare (a standout for his hilarious yet poignant Wally), Clarke Peters, Bill Pullman, and more round out a group of misfit retirees who feel like real people you’d want to hang out with. Their chemistry crackles in every barbecue scene, late-night conversation, or improvised plan against the threat. These aren’t caricatured “cute old folks”—they’re complex, flawed, vibrant humans with rich backstories, romantic entanglements, and plenty of edge.

The first episodes hook you with mystery and charm, then ramp up the tension and spectacle perfectly across the season. The creature design and effects are impressive—eerie, inventive, and integrated seamlessly into the story.

If you’re craving smart sci-fi with monsters, mystery, and massive heart, or just a story that makes you laugh, gasp, and root hard for its characters, The Boroughs is must-watch television. It reminds us that even in life’s later chapters, the best stories—and the biggest fights—can still be ahead.

Five stars out of five from me. Make sure to give it a watch.

Luke paced back and forth. “Any idea when he would attempt such a monstrosity?”

“He wouldn’t be foolish enough to attempt anything while he is at full strength in the battle chair. It’ll be during a moment of weakness. There is no chance of it happening on the ship, Timothy is too well protected. The destination planet will be different.”

Luke nodded. “That would make sense. Perhaps, when he is in bed with a woman, or the heat of battle.”

“That’s all I know.” The man with the scarred face turned and left.

Damn it, this is the last thing Timothy needs.Bravado, maybe. I’ll just have to try and stay close to him. If I tell Timothy, he might take precautionary action setting off a revolt.

He walked back to the group.

“What’s up with you, Luke? You look a fright.” John smirked.

“I’ll fill you in later.”

The next and final part of the time cycle was the target practice. A practice gun was passed from one Trooper to the next. The group formed a line in front of one of the many targets – 3-D printouts of various aliens that the Empire had fought against. Many were already extinct.

“Don’t worry John, there’s no need for you to practice,” Luke said in a mischievous tone.

John’s facial muscles tensed. “What do you mean by that?”

Luke laughed. “Someone has to be the worst.”

Shaking his head side to side, John replied, “Give me that .gun.”

He proceeded to take some of the worst shots Luke had ever seen.

All apart from John, laughed to themselves.

Luke went to go to the toilet at the other end of the large room. There were lines of free cubicles, and Luke went to the rear.

When he finished, a goon from earlier was waiting for him. He had long scars down both sides of his face.

Luke stared right at him. “What do you want.?”

“Relax, I’m not here to fight. You need to know. He’s talking about assassinating Timothy. The Emperor would never forgive us, he’ll slaughter our families! You have to do something.”

An hour later, the siren went off once more. It was met with groans.

“Time to go, chaps.” John smiled. “Come on, none of that dreariness. We all love doing hours of mindless exercise that may or may not benefit us in the future.”

The group got up from the table and walked to the opposite side of the ship. They entered a gym with a multitude of equipment.

They walked to their usual side and space. Luke sat down and started using the dumbbells, John went straight to the weightlifting. The   others stretched. “All seeing Emperor” played in the background. It was Luke’s favorite, and he hummed along to the words.

Service to The Emperor

Obedience to The Emperor

Love for The Emperor

Slay his enemies

Love his Army

A shout came from close by.

“There’s the lapdog.” A burly, Trooper with a mop of black hair was pointing his finger straight at Luke to a group of men, who immediately went towards him. John put down the weights and stood by Luke’s side.

The Trooper went almost nose to nose with Luke, his eyes bulging. “Tell that commander of yours that we’re sick of it. The food, the routine. This is not what we signed up for.”

Luke’s jaw clenched, he pushed his head forward, their sweaty foreheads touched. “Speak to him yourself, I hold no special position.”

The man grimaced. “So, if we hang you from this ceiling, it won’t send him a message?”

John projected his voice. “Over my dead body.”

“Yeah, mine too,” Lisa added from the rear.

One of the other Troopers whispered, “That’s enough, Jaime. There’s no point us all getting in disciplinary trouble.”

Staring at Luke, Jaime replied, “I understand, boys. We’ll catch up with this guy another time.”

He turned and went to the far side of the gym, followed by the others.

Lisa stood beside Luke.  “Are you okay?”

Luke nodded and shook John’s hand and slapped his back.

“You need to watch out for him,” Lisa continued,” he has a lot of lackeys. He’s been complaining about everything since we first set foot on the ship.”

“Maybe, you should mention it to Timothy,” John added.

Luke shook his head,” No, he has enough problems at the currently. I’d say, we deal with this in house.”

“Whatever you think, bud.” John turned and went back to weightlifting.

“Look after yourself, Luke.” For a moment, she linked a finger with one of his.

Luke looked at the bowl in front of him and, with trepidation, put a spoonful into his mouth. He gulped it down, averting his eyes. Continuing to do so, he tried his best to think of happier times.

“God, that was disgusting, ” John whispered.

Silence at the table.

Lisa spat, “It’s not right.”

Yvonne put her hand on Lisa’s shoulder. “If only we had wheelchairs, we’d be in the lap of luxury.”

Luke glared. “It’s not like that at all. Timothy showed us what he eats, and it’s the same as what the rest of us eat. I told him he should only eat the best but he insists on being treated like one of his Troopers. Ask John if you doubt me.”

John nodded in agreement.

“We didn’t mean Timothy,” Lisa responded. “He is a great commander. It’s just people are so annoyed over this long journey.”

If the people I know best talk like this, what about the others?

The table closest to him has plenty of people with sullen and angry faces.

We’re not far off mutiny.

Out of nowhere, John said, “So what kind of planet are we hoping to land on?”

“Hopefully, somewhere warm,” Lisa replied.