Spontaneous Musings

1. Ah...Dune. The new Dune movie trailer looks...awesome. [Note - Dune is my favorite science fiction novel - and the only one I became obsessed with as a teen. I read A LOT of science fiction as a teenager and well into my 20s and 30s. I still read it - I love science fiction. I first read it way back in the early 1980s as a teenager - I think I was 14 or 15 at the time. And it was just a year or so before the David Lynch film version was released - and it was not a great movie - it wasn't bad, but it didn't live up to the book - it felt a bit like a fever dream, but then everything by David Lynch kind of does. This looks better cast than that version and a bit closer to the book.)



I tried to read the other Dune books, I think I made it through the second one and the later one by Herbert's son, House Atriedes, but I only remember the first one clearly - possibly because I read it twice. I'd checked it out from my school library and devoured it, and then re-read it. Then asked for it for Christmas.

Oh and Stephen Colbert interviews the cast and filmmakers

2. I finished watching The Order - which was a lot better than I expected. Season 2 is much better than Season 1, and does wrap up both season arcs rather well, while setting up a new season. Also it ends the star-crossed, yet rather tepid, relationship between Jack and Alyssa in an surprising and interesting way. I was surprised by it.

Jack looks a bit like a young Tom Cruise - and they even reference that. Also there are guest-starring cameos by 1990s televisions show hearthrobes Jason Priestly, Ian Zeirling, along with James Marsters - all playing old villains, and none really aged well. Marsters maybe, but without the Spike makeup - it's hard to see the appeal. Oh, and Matt Frewer, who plays Jake's grandfather.

The young cast is actually pretty good and the writing better than expected, and compelling. I binge watched it in two weekends. Has some nice themes, and some decent satire - also plays with ethics in some interesting ways.
Jack keeps having issues with favorite ethics professors, who keep getting killed. The romance and family relationships, surprisingly enough is low-key, there's more emphasis on friendship.

3. I could not find Teen Wolf - it's not on Hulu or Netflix, but it might be on Amazon Prime. So I might check out Amazon Prime.

Instead I decided to watch the end of S2 of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina - the last two episodes were actually pretty good. This is proving to be a pattern with Sabrina. Sabrina also emphasizes feminism, and has a heavy anti-misogyny theme. But unlike The Handmaid's Tale and others, it's much lighter and kind of satiric. It's hard to take Sabrina that seriously nor are you supposed to. And Sabrina herself is a bit of an anti-hero.

It feels a bit like a feminist satire on Judaeic/Christian mythology, and religion. But an unevenly written one.

I do like most of the characters though - unfortunately, I prefer everyone to the lead. Sabrina, herself, can be kind of annoying at times. This happens a lot with television series with a lead, often I'll prefer the supporting characters - who weirdly get more developed as time wears on than the actual lead does.

This also happened with The Order, everyone but the lead, got massive character arcs and development. Jack kind of just is Jack, watching it all happen.

Anyhow, I'm moving onto S3, I think. Unless I get distracted by Teen Wolf.

As an aside? I tried The Derry Girls - which the critics adore, more than once. And I can't get past the first fifteen minutes of the first episode. It's not happening. I don't appear to have the same sense of humor that 98% of the critics do. I did not like Fleabag either - I tried and couldn't get past the third episode - the lead character annoyed me. I may however go back to We Who Walk in the Shadows - the Staten Island Vampire Comedy that I can never remember the title of. It's hit or miss, but when it hits - it really hits - and I am laughing my head off. (Most situational comedies are hit or miss with me - though.)

I also got bored of The Legend of Korra - I'm halfway through S3, and for some reason it's not compelling me in the same way Airbender did. I don't know why - could be a mood thing.

And I tried The Magicians again - not happening. I can't stand the lead character, Quentin. Maybe I should just hang in there - since word has it - they kill him off eventually. I wonder if this series works better if you loved or can remember Chronicles of Narnia? Because I'm struggling with the concept - had the same issues with the book.

I need escapist, fantasy stuff right now. Things with lusty teens, spouting fangs, doing magic, and with a sense of humor.