(no subject)

Finished Picard Season 1 - which was really good, except for one thing - the dashing Romulan double agent and spy, Narek, disappears at the end. And doesn't reappear. Harry Treadway apparently left the series. He reminded me a lot of the love interest in Discovery - who also disappears mid-way through the second season of that series. Apparently Alex Kurtzman likes to do that?

Other than that small blip, the first season is excellent. Not sure I'll like the second season - because I've never been crazy about time travel and alternate dystopian universes in sci-fi. It's one of the reasons time travel stories annoy me - because we end up with the dystopian alternate time lines. It's a recurring trope in sci-fi, particularly sci-fi with time travel. And not a favorite of mine. But I'll watch the second season anyhow because I like the characters. I also like John De Lancie.

The first season of Picard delved into the morality of not killing those we are afraid of, or allowing fear to be the guiding force. To do so, lacks imagination - there's always another route besides "violence". It also looked at the AI conundrum from both ends of the debate, and did a rather decent job of examining it. Along with all the various angles. I always felt that Star Trek Next Generation handled the AI and robotic ethics better than most sci-fi films and series, examining what it means to be human and sentient life. Along with our responsibility towards it.

But at its route Picard is an in-depth character study. We see the characters from various angles. In particular Picard and Seven, but also side characters such as Chris Rios, Dr. Jurati, Raffi, El Nor, Soji, and Laris. STNG did a better job than most in delving into the supporting characters and exploring them in depth. You'd have whole episodes on them and their arcs - which distinguishes it from Original Star Trek - which only really focused on Spock, Kirk, and Bones. (I watched it for Bones and Spock's banter, Kirk got on my nerves.)

***

Not doing that much else of note. Did some errands. Streamed the UU church service - which focused on Art of Gentleness or basically how to be kinder to oneself. I think the Universe is trying to tell me something? All week long people have been telling me not to beat up on myself or to stop it. Culminating with this service. And Picard - where people were telling the characters the same thing.

It was an interesting sermon though in that it talked about the problems of a society based on meritocracy. And how capitalism requires meritocracy to survive - the constant competitiveness, comparison, acquisition of accolades, awards, medals, wins. When in the end? All of that is rather hollow and meaningless. It's as if we're all stuck in the Boy and Girl Scouts and the acquisition of a endless number of merit badges is all that matters.

It's meaningless. No one cares. People forget stuff like that. At the end of the day - all that matters is if you were kind. Or at least tried to be.

At any rate, this song by Radiohead...kind of made cry, it was sung by a woman at church. Creep by Radiohead.

The version at church was closer to the Pretenders remastering of it Creep remastered by the Pretenders

DC & Marvel superhero flicks, not watching the superbowl, & other things of interest

1. TKingfisher, basically a bored best-selling horror novelist trolling about the internet looking for information on lab rat studies, discovered that maybe there's an andenovirus that causes obesity in humans and lab rats? Then posts this on Twitter with no real link, and the take "did everyone know this but me?"

ME: well no. I didn't know it until you posted it. (and since you are a horror novelist) I'm not sure if you made it up - so goes to check.

I'm back. There's nothing definite. It may cause Obesity, but they aren't certain.

Honestly, I wish people who are not virologists and pathologists and endocrinologists would stop doing scientific research on the internet. You don't know enough - to be able to ascertain what information is accurate. Lab studies have to be double and triple checked. Journal articles - peer reviewed.

Folks, not to preach, but this annoys me - if your vocation is professional horror novelist or pediatrician or nutritionist? Don't post information about viruses on the internet - unless you have a reliable link. We have enough scary misinformation on the internet as it is. Stick to fiction, please. Leave non-fiction to the experts.

2. I'm obviously not watching the Superbowl. I don't like the Eagles or the Chiefs. I don't care who wins. I'm also not much of a football fan - we've been through this - the appeal is lost on me. And the fans annoy me, particularly Chiefs fans. (I'm willing to make an exception for the Giants, those fans are cool.) Also, I don't like the commercials. The half-time show isn't worth the trouble - although I do like Rhianna, so I may have checked it out if I knew she was performing.

I may be among the few in the US not watching it. I'm rather proud of that.

3. The Flash movie looks good, it does however have a problem, so addressing the elephant in the room... Ezra Miller's Problems Worsen as Flash Premiere nears.

The gist is that Warner Brothers spent $200 million on the movie. Ezra Miller is the lead and far too embedded in the movie to remove or recast or reshoot. They'd literally have to reshoot the entire film. So, it's actually better to go ahead and release it - and just recast the Flash for any films coming after it. At least that's their plan at the moment - but if Miller's legal issues (aka scandal) gets much worse - they may be forced to shelve it.

( what to do it your star's personal life is imploding in a scandalous, disturbing and public way prior to the big screen release of your film? )

Poor DC - they really have had the worst luck with their film franchise. Ever since Justice League...it's just been one scandal after another.

But hey the trailer looks good...and we get Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck's Batmans. (Christian Bale doesn't need the money that badly, also he made a deal with Nolan that he'd only do Batman if Nolan was directing it and behind it. They agreed they'd only do it with each other.)

The Flash Trailer

I only want to see it for Batman, also I've been told about the story by CJL, and am curious. But I may wait for HBO Max (ie see it for free, more or less).

Gunn's apparently planning on rebooting the film verse with "Shazam: Fury of the Gods" and "The Flash" - James Gunn's Plans for DC Film Verse. This would enable casting new people in new roles and having them appear in films across the film verse. I honestly think whomever he casts as Batman and Superman is kind of important. You get a weak one - it won't work. And it should be top tier actor.

[And I'm wondering with James Gunn gone after this film, if Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 - is the last outing? It may well be.

Marvel has over 1000 characters, and Guardians was not the most popular by any stretch of the imagination. The popular franchises are actually the X-men and the Fantastic Four.]

I'm kind of curious where DC and Marvel are going with their franchises. I got an idea of where Marvel is going, but DC? I'm clueless.

4. What's Coming in Film & Television Projects with DC

More news on Gunn's plans for the DC film and television and animation verses: Plans for Batman, Superman, Supergirl and more...

( excerpt )

Here is what is coming as part of the next wave of DCEU projects.

Film projects: [The is part of "The Gods & Monsters" Phase...I think they are copying Marvel in how they are structuring the films, which is smart.]

1. “Superman: Legacy” – Due out in theaters on July 11, 2025, this film will be written by Gunn, and focus on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing.
2. “The Authority” – WildStorm characters will join the DCU as members of The Authority take matters into their own hands to do what they believe is right.
3. “The Brave and the Bold” – Inspired by Grant Morrison’s comic series, the DCEU will introduce Batman and Damian Wayne as Robin in this new film.
4. “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” - Based on Tom King’s comic series, this film is a science-fiction adventure about Supergirl. [It will be a bit darker...apparently]
5. “Swamp Thing” – The film will investigate the dark origins of Swamp Thing [they are going the horror route with this one.]

[Depends on the writing, direction and casting. The last time they tried some of these - things were mixed. Swamp Thing bombed but it was also the 70s and 80s. Brave and the Bold - at least is a different take on Batman. Superman is a different take on Superman. [Both of which have been done to death - so finding something different is hard. There's been about ten different television and films with various folks playing the roles since well the 1930s. ] Supergirl - also will be tough - since we've had a film franchise (horrible), and done on television twice. I'm surprised they didn't go with Batgirl (which was already filmed). The Authority at least looks different - and Wildstorm - is I think characters from Image comics? So interesting. I hope they don't go too fascist - DC always swings a little bit towards the "right", while Marvel swings towards the "left". Hence the reason, I prefer Marvel. (It may not bother everyone.)

Television projects

1. “Creature Commandos” – A seven-episode animated show in which Amanda Waller creates a black ops team out of monstrous prisoners. [Going with television for Suicide Squad is a good idea, it works better in the television format.]
2. “Waller” – Starring Viola Davis as Amanda Waller this series will feature characters from “Peacemaker.” [Also smart.]
3. “Booster Gold” – Booster Gold uses basic technology from the future to pretend to be a superhero in present day.
4. “Lanterns” – A “True Detective”-style show centered on intergalactic cops John Stewart and Hal Jordan as they uncover a dark mystery [both were Green Lantern at various points...so that's actually a clever idea.]
5. “Paradise Lost” ­– A “Game of Thrones”-style show set in Themyscira, home of the Amazons and birthplace of Wonder Woman, this drama focuses on the genesis and political intrigue of an island of all women. [Now this could be intriguing. And a smart way to re-invision Wonder Woman.]

[I like their television line up better - it's more innovative and interesting, also with more women.]

“One of the things that’s very important for me in all of these movies and TV series is that the director’s vision and the vision of the writers and all of the creators is unique,” Gunn said.

He noted that while the projects will have different tones, they will all feed into a greater over-arching story.

Remaining on the slate for 2023 are the theatrical releases of “Shazam: Fury of the Gods,” “The Flash,” “Blue Beetle” and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.”

They kind of have to release the Flash - to reboot the universe.

All of these look good, dammit. The kid in me is hopping up and down in excitement. I like superhero films. I have a weakness for this stuff. Always have. It's fun and escapist. And metaphorical - and I think metaphorically.

**

5. What's Coming in Film and Television Projects for Marvel

Back to Marvel...it's not as interesting, and I'm kind of tired after reading it..What's Coming up with Marvel Film and Television Verse.

However...I did like this trailer.. Secret Invasion - which appears to have Samuel L Jackson, Olivia Coleman,Don Cheadle,Ben Mendleson, Cobie Smulders, and various others in a kind of noirish spy alien sci-fi alien invasion story.

This article even gives you the timelines of when each Marvel film aired, and dear ghod, there's a lot of Marvel films. Upcoming and Previous Marvel Films and Television Series Listed in chronological order

Personally, I think Marvel should do a television series with the X-men, live action, and hook it into the film verse. But they clearly don't quite know how. Animation is easier.