2024 - So far, still alive

As of the writing of this post, the July 4th holidays are in the rear view mirror and we’re on our way to the 2024 US Presidential Election in a few more months. Overall, things are still the same here; we’re all still alive, some of my colleagues have moved around but I’m not allowed to say where.

So, what’s been happening?

What I’ve Watched

I started off the year watching True Detective Season 4 and Monsieur Spade. True Detective spawned an amazing first season, and then went off a cliff for many years before giving the viewer what they really wanted; give Jodie Foster a badge and a gun again and deliver Silence of the Lambs on Ice. Which it did.

Clive Owen in Monsieur Spade was a great juxtopose to True Detective, in summertime post-WW2 France with noirish twists here and there. Maybe the ending wrapped itself up a little too neatly, but sure, I’d see a second season of that.

I then discovered a guilty pleasure; Law and Order Toronto Criminal Intent. As if you couldn’t put more words in the title. I’m surprised they didn’t get to a case involving hockey until episode 8. This led me to go back and pick up some other Law and Order, and even take another look at NCIS.

This all leads up to what everyone is watching this last month: The Acolyte. After the first episode I was going to start comparing this to Marvel’s Secret Invasion but no, this is becoming way way worse. At least with Secret Invasion you had some standout performances. I’m not an acting coach or a writing coach, but killing off Carrie-Anne Moss in the first ten - okay, maybe five - minutes of your opener stoked the ire of many many fanboys, and now it’s like looking at a train crash in slow motion; there’s absolutely no chance anyone can look away. Only two more episodes to go…

Pleasant Surprises

So I finally watched The Batman and Mars Express and really enjoyed both. I’ve also been reading more; mostly due to Good Omens’ success, I started to pick up Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels. He’s Douglas Adams with a decent work ethic, and most of his books don’t disappoint.

I’m also reading Titanium Noir right now and it’s great. Go read it now, if you haven’t.