Pop culture roundup...

Saw that the Octavia Butler novel Kindred has been adapted as a television mini-series and is streaming on Hulu. The eight episode series is produced by F/X productions.

I read this for a book club once, and it's a haunting novel. Also possibly the best "time-travel" story that I've read. Since the time-travel works on multiple levels. Butler is a tight plotter.

The set up?

"I lost an arm on my last trip home. My left arm.”

Dana’s torment begins when she suddenly vanishes on her 26th birthday from California, 1976, and is dragged through time to antebellum Maryland to rescue a boy named Rufus, heir to a slaveowner’s plantation. She soon realizes the purpose of her summons to the past: protect Rufus to ensure his assault of her Black ancestor so that she may one day be born. As she endures the traumas of slavery and the soul-crushing normalization of savagery, Dana fights to keep her autonomy and return to the present."

It's kind of a horror story. But it has some nice twists and turns which I didn't expect, and great character build up.

To date - it's been adapted into a graphic novel, and now a series. I couldn't read the graphic novel.

Curious about the series, though.

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Apparently Harrison Ford is taking over for William Hurt (who died not that long ago) as General Thaddeaus "Thunderbolt" Ross in Captain America: New World Order (2024) and Thunderbolts (2024).

Ford is the same age as Momma, 80. I'm amazed the man is still making movies and so many.

Don't ask me about Thunderbolts - I'd never heard of this comic. (Apparently it's Marvel's take on DC's Suicide Squad?) And an off-shoot of the Avengers. I'm not really an Avengers comic book fan. More an X-men fan. Although the X-men comics are gradually losing me again, so I may take a break from them. They've gotten rather dark, convoluted (they were always convoluted but even more convoluted, which I didn't think was possible), and they aren't focusing on my favs that much. (Granted my favs have gotten a lot of screen time in the comics, but they are still focusing a lot on Wolverine - who has to be the most overdone character in the history of comics and literature. The character is in everything. Less is more, folks.)

Speaking of Wolverine - Hugh Jackman decided to reprise the role for the next Deadpool movie. Apparently Wade isn't enough on his own - we have to add people? (Don't get me wrong, I adore Hugh and he does an excellent Wolverine - if a bit on the tall side. Wolvie in the comics is about four foot if that, and Jackman is above six foot. But I'm kind of tired of Wolverine and wish they'd retire the character for a bit, on the other hand - Deadpool and Wolverine are kind of fun together.) Here's the Reveal. It comes out in 2024. There's a lot of Marvel flicks coming out in 2024. Wonder what's coming out in 2023 - assuming I can get myself into another movie theater. I want to see Wakanda Forever - but not with a head/chest cold. It's not COVID - I know this because I took four COVID home tests - all were negative.

Chidi told me he was seeing Wakanda Forever this weekend - in 4 D and in 3 D. (I'm like - "whyyy?" I saw Black Panther in 3 D and it gave me a headache. I don't like things flying out of the movie at me. The only film that worked for me in 3D was Avatar - because pretty flowers. Actually Avatar is the sole film that I've seen - that only works in 3D, if you see it in another format - you'll hate it and not get the appeal at all, not that you necessarily would in 3D, but still.) Also, as an aside? There's 4D now? WTF? What is 4D? Virtual Reality???

Chidi also likes to see things at Night Hawk Cinema and Almo Drafthouse. He likes the vibe. (IDK - I tried Night Hawk with a friend, found it overpriced, uncomfortable (those little cocktail tables are havoc on long legs), and distracting. Kept getting distracted by the waitress wandering around the rows. I'm easily distracted, and I'm the sort who wants no heads in my line of vision. Close to the center or an aisle for easy escape, further in the back, and to be immersed. I want to get lost in the film. If I'm not lost in the film - it's not working for me.

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I've given up on Amazon's Peripheral - I find it kind of...boring? My attention drifted from it. Amazon has a problem with sci-fantasy series, a lot of them require way too much exposition, and have too much fighting.


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Caught up on Monarch - eh, while it is better "plotted" than Nashville was - Nashville had more original songs and performances, also more likable characters. OTOH - Monarch is better cast in places, and has stronger performances.

They are very different shows. Monarch is kind of a country western version of Empire.

I like Gigi better than I did, but Niki now is getting on my nerves. The sister rivalry doesn't work - and I'm kind of glad they dropped it in the last episode.

Also caught up on Alaska Daily - what I like about it - is the supporting characters stories, and the process. Eileen's story - eh. The PTSD is interesting, but the final episode of the year, with the stalker, felt like a television cliche.

Speaking of over done television tropes? There's a lot of criminal procedurals popping up next year. They all look a bit a like. The Accused has Micheal Chicklis and Margot Martingdale in it - and seems to be focused on the legal case of the week. Reasonable Doubt is kind of similar. Will Trent is a cute goofy detective with a dog.
And that's on top of all the ones that are already on.

These aren't my thing. But apparently other people love them. Oh this week's Law & Order filmed a scene in Wales' law firm or the law firm, where she currently works and has worked for the last twenty some years.

Grey's Anatomy appears to be writing off Meredith much the same way they wrote off Avery and Tom K. ( mild spoilers )

I'm going to try and go to bed early again tonight. With any luck, my brain and body will let me. I've been getting up a lot in the night and not sleeping at all well.