I was about to record Gord’s Gold when the people above me started playing music. It’s my own fault, I prepared the show on Thanksgiving; I should have recorded it yesterday. I wasted far too much time. What was meant to be my early afternoon trip to Trader Joe’s did not start until after 4:00. I watched enough TV that I’ve more than burned through the backlog before the weekend. Even Trader Joe’s was a disappointment. They didn’t have the amazing chocolate brownie coffee ice cream sandwiches. I bought the amazing but less amazing vanilla chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches instead. The only interpersonal interaction I had all day was with the cashier. Often at Trader Joe’s that goes well, yesterday it didn’t.
I might have made a mistake. I keep all my digital music on One Drive, at least that’s what I thought I did. But it seems that One Drive just duplicates what’s on my hard drive and my hard drive is full. I don’t remember having that problem when I had dropbox, so I am in the process of moving back there even though that costs money. The One Drive comes with MS Office. I didn’t realize that it would take more than a full day to transfer everything. It says I still have 16 hours to go. After I do, I don’t know if it will work seamlessly with Windows Media Player. I want to be able to search and play anything in my collection at any time I’m connected to the internet. Who knows if that is possible?
I just cut everything I had just written as I want to give the topic more time and attention than I feel I can give now. Instead of going with my backup; discussing the shows I’m currently watching on TV. This will be useful to me as I keep forgetting to keep up with some of the shows. That’s why I had a backlog. I will use my Fire TV as a memory aid. I’m going to list all the shows I am either currently watching or finished this week. They are going to be listed in the order they appear on my TV.
Netflix:
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities: This is the latest anthology show in the tradition of The Twilight Zone. This one focuses on pure horror. Some of it is quite Lovecraftian, including one based on a Lovecraft story Pitman’s Model. That was also the basis of a Night Gallery episode. I invoked The Twilight Zone but like Alfred Hitchcock presents it is hosted by a master director. The episodes are genuinely creepy. It will not be everyone’s cup of tea but if you want to imagine unimaginable horrors, this show is for you. I can’t binge it; each episode takes too much out of me.
Warrior Nun: This is as high concept as you get. It’s the story of the Order of the Cruciform Sword (OCS), a group of nuns that operate as the Pope’s Black Ops special forces. One of them is the titular Warrior Nun who has an angel’s halo embedded in her back that gives her powers. The show owes a lot to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with the Warrior Nun as the Slayer. Like Buffy she’s an ordinary girl given divine powers and responsibilities. The second season owes more to its comic book origin as there are multiple battles between the OCS and the forces of evil. Nuns in habits using assault rifles and ninja skills in pitched bloody battles is not something you see every day. I just finished this season’s final episode. Like the first it ends with a cliffhanger. I’m not fond of that device.
Prime Video:
Counterpart: I found this in a recommendation from Google Feed. This is a highly bingeable series that is short enough to be manageable. There are two seasons, 20 episodes in all. I’m on Season 1 Episode 9. It’s directly comparable to The Man in the High Castle as it’s about conflict between alternate realities. This takes place in the near future. The two worlds separated only 20 years ago. J.K. Simmons gives a masterful performance as two version of the same person. Their histories diverged only 20 years ago but their personalities are both vastly different and eerily the same. Watch for a minute and you can tell which character Simmons is playing. It’s only difficult when one of them pretends to be the other. Is it the greatest show ever? No. it is worthwhile TV, yes. It’s entertaining but more than junk food.
The Peripheral: This is another multiple timeline show with the story centering on people from 2030 that have the consciousness projected 50 years into the future into a post-apocalyptic world. They trio of contemporary (2030) characters don’t know everything that’s going on and neither do the viewers. There’s too much of the trope of vast malignant forces manipulating all events, the basic MAGA world view but from the left, for my taste, but the show holds my attention. This is in the first season and is being released one episode at a time.
Disney +:
Andor: I just finished the first season. It’s some people’s favorite Star Wars series, but not mine. I am enjoying it, but they have no idea how to think of a society in its totality. The society is technologically advanced far beyond our own. Yet portrayal of the factor Andor works in is like the one in Charlie Chaplain’s Modern Times. It is outmoded for the present day earth, let alone a space traveling civilization. They forget they have droids though we later see droids doing similar work more efficiently.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special: This was far better than I expected filled with both the expected GotG humor and a great depiction of “the true meaning of Christmas.” Remember that’s the true meaning according to me, a Jewish Atheist.
She Hulk: I finished that last week or the week before. The self-description as a legal sitcom is accurate. There’s a lot of breaking the 4th wall and superhero expectations.
HBO Max
Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler: A curious show as it takes place in an alternate reality that has nothing to do with the world of Batman. England had a Civil War in the 1960s. The Nazis control Germany. England is filled with artificially enhanced human beings. Bruce Wayne’s parents are prominent members of the cast whose importance is just below Alfred’s. It’s way over the top but a lot of fun. There is a new episode released weekly during the 10-week season. Like Warrior Nun and Stranger Things, it ends with a cliffhanger that changes all that happens.
Titans: This is based on the DC comics and animated show Teen Titans. The cast is younger heroes, some of which were sidekicks. They are led by Dick Grayson formerly Robin, and now Nightwing. There’s also Tim Drake, Robin-in-training, Connor Kent aka Superboy. He’s the cloned son of Superman and Lex Luther, and others that I had never heard of before. This season as in the first they are fighting magical beings. This show is very dark, some of the earlier principals have died. They are currently in season 4 episode 5.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Yes, I don’t just watch science fiction/fantasy/horror. I’m always game for a humorous and in depth look at current events.
I’d very much like to watch some shows of other dramas. Are there any good mysteries out there I don’t know about? Any intelligent comedies? I’m waiting for the return of the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I also watch sports, the Mets during baseball season and the Knicks for hoops. I should catch up on my Ken Burns. I never finished the Vietnam series.
This is a great cheater edition of Wise Madness I didn’t have to think about what to write. It inspired Dropbox, the transfer of my music is now 98% finished and is projected to be done in 45 minutes. The people upstairs are now quiet so I will record Gord’s Gold. I want to go outside and take a walk, but I better get the show finished while I know I have the opportunity.
Wise Madness 