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Mar. 19th, 2023 09:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Picard S3 - I'm enjoying this season better than the last two, partly because they are using more interesting past characters (one's who've not been done to death), and referencing both Voyager and DS9. Also, it's suspenseful.
It is however more of a character piece than a speculative sci-fi or plot piece, which may or may not turn off a few folks? I'm more interested in character than theme or plot, which is why serial drama works better for me than episodic or anthology. I also like things that are a bit different.
Picard is different than the other Star Trek series - in that it really is focused on Jean Luc Picard - and resolving his characters issues. The other characters are explored as well, but mainly in parallel to him. It also, unlike the others, has characters who have changed and evolved and have definite emotional character arcs. Often in speculative sci-fi, theme and plot are put before character, and the characters seem to run in place. (Although Discovery did evolve, so there's that.)
The plot? I'm not sure what to make of it. But, it is interesting, and it's about solving a mystery.
Who is the villain and why are they doing whatever it is they are doing, and why are they after Jack Crusher? What is wrong with Jack Crusher? And how has been compromised?
One of my favorite guest/recurring Star Trek characters popped up in a cameo in this episode. Rohan, portrayed by Michelle Forbes (who excels at portraying ambiguous characters), popped up as a Starfleet Commander, and the head of intelligence. She's apparently the person who has employed Worf and Raffi to investigate what happened at Daystrom and what's going in Starfleet. She also, managed to give Jean Luc and Will her information prior to getting killed by the changlings.
There's an excellent couple of scenes with Rohan and Picard. Where they discuss and resolve her betrayal of Picard and why she did it. Some of this was dealt with in DS9 and on Voyager.
Prior to this episode, we got to know why Shaw has issues with Picard (he was on the ship that Borg Picard destroyed), and a bit more on Jack. Apparently Jack did seek out Picard at one point, but Picard (without knowing who he was) flippantly, and kind of arrogantly, told him Starfleet was all the family he needed. Picard was kind of always doing that up until the second Season of Picard, where he finally resolves his Mommy and Daddy issues. (Dear God, does everyone have Mommy and Daddy issues?) Picard's mother was bi-polar, and his father was trying to protect him from her mental health issues (I'm not sure why she wasn't on medication for it, but whatever...I mean it is the 25th Century, you'd think they'd have made advances in that department? I had issues with S2.)
Anyhow, Picard remembers somehow that he had interacted with Jack previously, without realizing it, and ended up with a missed opportunity. At times, I feel like this series should be entitled the Regrets of Jean-Luc Picard.
The good news is unlike the prior to seasons they don't dwell on it too long. And move on. It's just a quick moment. There's too much going on to dwell. Also Worf in this series is rather well-evolved, and likable for once. As is Beverly Crusher, and Ryker. Crusher has more to do, and figures things out. She figures out how to get out of the nebula they are stuck in along with her song's help. Also figures out the Nebula is a giant womb about to give birth and its having contractions. (Silly, but Star Trek). In addition she figures out the changeling's have evolved and can be anyone.
And that there's something wrong with Jack. Go Beverly. The series wisely replaced Dr. Agnes with Dr. Beverly, and Captain Rios with Captain Will Ryker, and Captain Shaw. As a result, it's more interesting, and less exposition and character background is needed - they can just build on what we already know.
So, it is by far the best of the three seasons right now. And to date, improves as we go. The Titan is currently running from everyone, with a skeleton crew. And has reconnected with Worf and Raffi who are deep undercover and have figured various things out.
2. In other news, I'm making progress with my series of watercolors. Partially finished my guy with the sunglasses and the colorful jacket - which I'd previously posted a drawing of. So that's four watercolors done to date.
I'm enjoying this. Also hanging them in my window is making me happy. I finally have a little artist studio in the corner of my living room. I'd been dreaming of creating one for the last six or seven years now. Prior to the pandemic, I'd bought a table for it, along with a chair. But then the pandemic hit - and I had to use it for a remote work station instead. (I'd not gotten around to setting up my art studio.) But I promised myself that once the pandemic was over or rather I was brought back into the office full time, I'd set it up as an art studio.
I'll see if I can take a picture.
I'm quite proud of it, if I do say so myself. It's making me very happy. I come home and look at it - and no matter what work is like or the weather, it puts a smile on my face. Right now - it's making me happy. I may frame a few and hang on my walls. Thinking of hanging up my photos as well.
Small things make me happy. Today's church service - was all about how to live in the moment. Not to worry about yesterday or tomorrow, to focus on now. Not to be weighed down by regret. Life is happening now. And this is all we get.
And there's all this emphasis on doing big things? Sometimes it's the small ones that bring the most joy.
3. On Twitter - one of my Writer Twitter posters, who is also on Music Twitter, stated that in all this back and forth with people who are doing their "hobbies" for a living, and talking about loving what they do and never retiring - there are professions that don't work like that. Nurses, Doctors, Cops, Dentists, Sanitation Workers, Janitors...Radio hosts, they kind of have to retire and find aspects of their jobs that they enjoy.
I agreed. If everyone did their hobbies for a living, we'd be dead. Hello.
There'd be no doctors, psychologists, sanitation workers, plumbers, grocery stores, retail, etc.
I was talking to Mother about it today.
Mother: I'm sorry no one cares if you write a book or poem. But they do care if a train station escalator or elevator is built.
Me: Exactly. Yes, it's important to put art out in the world, but, it's not the only thing. And it's just as replaceable as anything else. Although right now, what I'm doing at work isn't as replaceable as say my novels or blog posts are. They are understaffed. And kind of need someone with my level of expertise.
Mother: And you aren't easily replaced, you have a specialized knowledge built over time that can't easily be replicated and is unique. And anyone can write a novel. Or a poem. There's millions out there. Not to say you shouldn't do that too. Just that it isn't necessarily more valuable than procuring escalators and elevators at train stations, or treating a patient, or cleaning a street...
Just because someone eliminates your job or fires you, or pushes you to resign, doesn't mean what you did was easily replaceable or replaceable. It means the person who did it is most likely pennywise pound foolish or didn't appreciated what they had. Do not give people more credit than they deserve. I learned that in 2002. People are stupid. And kind of egotistical. They think what the do defines them. It doesn't. What you write isn't your voice. It's an expression of it. If you lose the ability to write, you still have your voice - you just have to find another way to express yourself.
Off the Ted Talk now. At least it was short.
4. Still reading Bryan Cranston's Life in Pieces - he's a good memoir writer. I'd say far better than Prince Harry in some respects. He's at least not whiny, Harry was very whiny. Cranston tricked me - I honestly believed he killed his girlfriend when I went to church this morning. It wasn't until I got back and finished listening to the chapter that I realized he'd imagined it, and the police showed up and carted her away.
He talks about how his first steady television acting gig was working on the soap opera - "LOVING". It had aired as a prime time special movie, before going into daytime. Starred Lloyd Bridges and Geraldine Page - who were marvelous. Cranston was in the prime time special with the two stars, who were one offs - they didn't move on to the daytime series. Cranston said that the producers kept firing actors on the series (without cause or much notice) to the point that the actors nicknamed it "Leaving". Also, how hard it was. He was proud of starting on a soap and doing it for two years.
He had to do 30 pages a day. And often they'd have to fight to do real moments, because the producers wanted to dumb it down for the audience. Soap writers and producers are kind of dumb. Cranston said they kept trying to tell them to trust the audience, that the audience wanted a real moment, and would still like the characters. But it was often an unwinnable battle, also they film them so fast - you don't get much say one way or the over. Time is money. It's do it, out, and done. And if you didn't make your marks fast or remember your lines and deliver - you were fired.
He also talks about a crazy girlfriend who stalked him, threatened him, and had him so traumatized he was curled up in a ball in the middle of his bed fantasizing about killing her. She was finally carted off by the police and he didn't see her again.
What he makes clear - is how hard it is to be a working actor. You have to do a lot on the side, and a lot of shit roles. When people complained to Lloyd Bridges about doing a soap and the early hours, Bridges stated - "better than digging ditches," which Cranston could appreciate.
Cranston also makes it clear that to be an actor - you have to be confident, and a little arrogant about your craft. You have to sell it and yourself. Make it clear you are the best person for the job and can do it.
Also, be working at it - and prepared when opportunity comes knocking.
This is kind of true about everything. I've had opportunity knock and I had nothing, I wasn't prepared. It was horrible and it stung. I had one book - they didn't like the story, but did like my writing (this is the book prior to the one I published), and I had nothing else at the time. (That book I gave up on. Too many betas disliked the story or felt it didn't work.)
5. Overall a good day. Went to church. Listened to music. Went to Artist Way. Talked to artists. Bought art supplies. Bought groceries. Took a bristling cold walk on the promenade. It was beautiful but also freezing. The wind felt like bristles of icicles against my cheeks, and burned. Cold can burn like heat does, just differently?
Still great view of rippling waves, Statue of Liberty, barges, and a cruise ship (that I was thankful I was not on), and the city. Also the blue sky.
Mother told me that one of the couples she met the other night - had gone on 96 cruises. (Ugh. The idea of being stuck on a huge ship with 1,000 people is not my idea of fun. But then I find hotels and resorts can of boring, and my least favorite activity is lounging next to a pool. I'm weird I know. But I like vacations - where I am hiking and exploring new cultural things, and learning stuff. I can sit and read and watch television and go to shows and concerts at home. Plus not a sun bather. Never have been. Fifteen minutes - and I get antsy.)
Came home, painted, made dinner, talked to mother, watched Picard and Alaska Daily.
All in all, a nice day.
It is however more of a character piece than a speculative sci-fi or plot piece, which may or may not turn off a few folks? I'm more interested in character than theme or plot, which is why serial drama works better for me than episodic or anthology. I also like things that are a bit different.
Picard is different than the other Star Trek series - in that it really is focused on Jean Luc Picard - and resolving his characters issues. The other characters are explored as well, but mainly in parallel to him. It also, unlike the others, has characters who have changed and evolved and have definite emotional character arcs. Often in speculative sci-fi, theme and plot are put before character, and the characters seem to run in place. (Although Discovery did evolve, so there's that.)
The plot? I'm not sure what to make of it. But, it is interesting, and it's about solving a mystery.
Who is the villain and why are they doing whatever it is they are doing, and why are they after Jack Crusher? What is wrong with Jack Crusher? And how has been compromised?
One of my favorite guest/recurring Star Trek characters popped up in a cameo in this episode. Rohan, portrayed by Michelle Forbes (who excels at portraying ambiguous characters), popped up as a Starfleet Commander, and the head of intelligence. She's apparently the person who has employed Worf and Raffi to investigate what happened at Daystrom and what's going in Starfleet. She also, managed to give Jean Luc and Will her information prior to getting killed by the changlings.
There's an excellent couple of scenes with Rohan and Picard. Where they discuss and resolve her betrayal of Picard and why she did it. Some of this was dealt with in DS9 and on Voyager.
Prior to this episode, we got to know why Shaw has issues with Picard (he was on the ship that Borg Picard destroyed), and a bit more on Jack. Apparently Jack did seek out Picard at one point, but Picard (without knowing who he was) flippantly, and kind of arrogantly, told him Starfleet was all the family he needed. Picard was kind of always doing that up until the second Season of Picard, where he finally resolves his Mommy and Daddy issues. (Dear God, does everyone have Mommy and Daddy issues?) Picard's mother was bi-polar, and his father was trying to protect him from her mental health issues (I'm not sure why she wasn't on medication for it, but whatever...I mean it is the 25th Century, you'd think they'd have made advances in that department? I had issues with S2.)
Anyhow, Picard remembers somehow that he had interacted with Jack previously, without realizing it, and ended up with a missed opportunity. At times, I feel like this series should be entitled the Regrets of Jean-Luc Picard.
The good news is unlike the prior to seasons they don't dwell on it too long. And move on. It's just a quick moment. There's too much going on to dwell. Also Worf in this series is rather well-evolved, and likable for once. As is Beverly Crusher, and Ryker. Crusher has more to do, and figures things out. She figures out how to get out of the nebula they are stuck in along with her song's help. Also figures out the Nebula is a giant womb about to give birth and its having contractions. (Silly, but Star Trek). In addition she figures out the changeling's have evolved and can be anyone.
And that there's something wrong with Jack. Go Beverly. The series wisely replaced Dr. Agnes with Dr. Beverly, and Captain Rios with Captain Will Ryker, and Captain Shaw. As a result, it's more interesting, and less exposition and character background is needed - they can just build on what we already know.
So, it is by far the best of the three seasons right now. And to date, improves as we go. The Titan is currently running from everyone, with a skeleton crew. And has reconnected with Worf and Raffi who are deep undercover and have figured various things out.
2. In other news, I'm making progress with my series of watercolors. Partially finished my guy with the sunglasses and the colorful jacket - which I'd previously posted a drawing of. So that's four watercolors done to date.
I'm enjoying this. Also hanging them in my window is making me happy. I finally have a little artist studio in the corner of my living room. I'd been dreaming of creating one for the last six or seven years now. Prior to the pandemic, I'd bought a table for it, along with a chair. But then the pandemic hit - and I had to use it for a remote work station instead. (I'd not gotten around to setting up my art studio.) But I promised myself that once the pandemic was over or rather I was brought back into the office full time, I'd set it up as an art studio.
I'll see if I can take a picture.
I'm quite proud of it, if I do say so myself. It's making me very happy. I come home and look at it - and no matter what work is like or the weather, it puts a smile on my face. Right now - it's making me happy. I may frame a few and hang on my walls. Thinking of hanging up my photos as well.
Small things make me happy. Today's church service - was all about how to live in the moment. Not to worry about yesterday or tomorrow, to focus on now. Not to be weighed down by regret. Life is happening now. And this is all we get.
And there's all this emphasis on doing big things? Sometimes it's the small ones that bring the most joy.
3. On Twitter - one of my Writer Twitter posters, who is also on Music Twitter, stated that in all this back and forth with people who are doing their "hobbies" for a living, and talking about loving what they do and never retiring - there are professions that don't work like that. Nurses, Doctors, Cops, Dentists, Sanitation Workers, Janitors...Radio hosts, they kind of have to retire and find aspects of their jobs that they enjoy.
I agreed. If everyone did their hobbies for a living, we'd be dead. Hello.
There'd be no doctors, psychologists, sanitation workers, plumbers, grocery stores, retail, etc.
I was talking to Mother about it today.
Mother: I'm sorry no one cares if you write a book or poem. But they do care if a train station escalator or elevator is built.
Me: Exactly. Yes, it's important to put art out in the world, but, it's not the only thing. And it's just as replaceable as anything else. Although right now, what I'm doing at work isn't as replaceable as say my novels or blog posts are. They are understaffed. And kind of need someone with my level of expertise.
Mother: And you aren't easily replaced, you have a specialized knowledge built over time that can't easily be replicated and is unique. And anyone can write a novel. Or a poem. There's millions out there. Not to say you shouldn't do that too. Just that it isn't necessarily more valuable than procuring escalators and elevators at train stations, or treating a patient, or cleaning a street...
Just because someone eliminates your job or fires you, or pushes you to resign, doesn't mean what you did was easily replaceable or replaceable. It means the person who did it is most likely pennywise pound foolish or didn't appreciated what they had. Do not give people more credit than they deserve. I learned that in 2002. People are stupid. And kind of egotistical. They think what the do defines them. It doesn't. What you write isn't your voice. It's an expression of it. If you lose the ability to write, you still have your voice - you just have to find another way to express yourself.
Off the Ted Talk now. At least it was short.
4. Still reading Bryan Cranston's Life in Pieces - he's a good memoir writer. I'd say far better than Prince Harry in some respects. He's at least not whiny, Harry was very whiny. Cranston tricked me - I honestly believed he killed his girlfriend when I went to church this morning. It wasn't until I got back and finished listening to the chapter that I realized he'd imagined it, and the police showed up and carted her away.
He talks about how his first steady television acting gig was working on the soap opera - "LOVING". It had aired as a prime time special movie, before going into daytime. Starred Lloyd Bridges and Geraldine Page - who were marvelous. Cranston was in the prime time special with the two stars, who were one offs - they didn't move on to the daytime series. Cranston said that the producers kept firing actors on the series (without cause or much notice) to the point that the actors nicknamed it "Leaving". Also, how hard it was. He was proud of starting on a soap and doing it for two years.
He had to do 30 pages a day. And often they'd have to fight to do real moments, because the producers wanted to dumb it down for the audience. Soap writers and producers are kind of dumb. Cranston said they kept trying to tell them to trust the audience, that the audience wanted a real moment, and would still like the characters. But it was often an unwinnable battle, also they film them so fast - you don't get much say one way or the over. Time is money. It's do it, out, and done. And if you didn't make your marks fast or remember your lines and deliver - you were fired.
He also talks about a crazy girlfriend who stalked him, threatened him, and had him so traumatized he was curled up in a ball in the middle of his bed fantasizing about killing her. She was finally carted off by the police and he didn't see her again.
What he makes clear - is how hard it is to be a working actor. You have to do a lot on the side, and a lot of shit roles. When people complained to Lloyd Bridges about doing a soap and the early hours, Bridges stated - "better than digging ditches," which Cranston could appreciate.
Cranston also makes it clear that to be an actor - you have to be confident, and a little arrogant about your craft. You have to sell it and yourself. Make it clear you are the best person for the job and can do it.
Also, be working at it - and prepared when opportunity comes knocking.
This is kind of true about everything. I've had opportunity knock and I had nothing, I wasn't prepared. It was horrible and it stung. I had one book - they didn't like the story, but did like my writing (this is the book prior to the one I published), and I had nothing else at the time. (That book I gave up on. Too many betas disliked the story or felt it didn't work.)
5. Overall a good day. Went to church. Listened to music. Went to Artist Way. Talked to artists. Bought art supplies. Bought groceries. Took a bristling cold walk on the promenade. It was beautiful but also freezing. The wind felt like bristles of icicles against my cheeks, and burned. Cold can burn like heat does, just differently?
Still great view of rippling waves, Statue of Liberty, barges, and a cruise ship (that I was thankful I was not on), and the city. Also the blue sky.
Mother told me that one of the couples she met the other night - had gone on 96 cruises. (Ugh. The idea of being stuck on a huge ship with 1,000 people is not my idea of fun. But then I find hotels and resorts can of boring, and my least favorite activity is lounging next to a pool. I'm weird I know. But I like vacations - where I am hiking and exploring new cultural things, and learning stuff. I can sit and read and watch television and go to shows and concerts at home. Plus not a sun bather. Never have been. Fifteen minutes - and I get antsy.)
Came home, painted, made dinner, talked to mother, watched Picard and Alaska Daily.
All in all, a nice day.
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Date: 2023-03-20 04:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-03-20 06:38 pm (UTC)