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My biggest TV thrill this fall has been the return of the Great British Baking Show, which is going up an episode a week on Netflix. When I first saw this scheme of release, I decided that I would save up the episodes to watch all together… but of course within three days my resolution broke down, I watched the first episode, and I have no regrets, because now I have an episode to look forward to every week for the rest of autumn.
And we’ve finished the first half of Miraculous Ladybug season 3, which continues to be great, although ill-served by Netflix, which put up the episodes in completely the wrong order, and - and - AND! did not air at all the episode in which two new superheroes got introduced! We see them for the first time in “Party Crasher,” but it’s clear that this is not their first appearance, because Chat Noir greets them both by name. And we don’t even get to see their transformation sequences. What is this outrage?
On a show level, rather than a Netflix level, I’m not super thrilled that these new additions mean there are now more male superheroes than female, although hopefully that state of affairs won’t last forever? We’ll see when Netflix finally puts up the second half of the season.
But one thing I DID love is the fact that Chloe Bourgeois actually resists akumization because she wants so much to be a good superhero. We’ve never seen anyone do that before! That’s so badass! And actually totally in character for Chloe: I absolutely believe that Chloe Bourgeois is stubborn enough to heroically resist evil if she puts her mind to it. It’s just that previously all her stubbornness has been flowing the other way.
We also finish season 3 of The Good Place, which continues to be excellent, and I am crushed by the knowledge that the new season is coming out as I type and I won’t be able to see it till next year.
It’s impossible to discuss this show without spoilers, so I’m putting in a
One thing I love and admire about this show is its willingness to reinvent itself. The season kicks off with Eleanor meeting Chidi again (but on earth this time), and they could have spent much of the season getting the gang back together, having them learn about ethics again, seeing if they can in fact get better if they work together - but instead they change things up entirely just a few episodes in, when the gang overhears Michael and Janet explaining the point system, which means that they are now no longer eligible to earn more points and are therefore doomed to hell, and the show is off to explore a whole new philosophical question (which is nonetheless related to the other philosophical questions it has been exploring): how do you find meaning in life if you know that you’re doomed? What are the reasons to be good under those circumstances?
I really like the way that they weave together these philosophical issues with the storylines. The episode where Eleanor dives headfirst into determinism is a particular tour-de-force in this area.
And not content with that sudden about-face, the show reinvents itself a couple of more times before the season is over. It’s just fascinating to see how much the show can change while remaining at heart the same, just exploring new facets of its main core theme: what does it mean to be a good person?
And we’ve finished the first half of Miraculous Ladybug season 3, which continues to be great, although ill-served by Netflix, which put up the episodes in completely the wrong order, and - and - AND! did not air at all the episode in which two new superheroes got introduced! We see them for the first time in “Party Crasher,” but it’s clear that this is not their first appearance, because Chat Noir greets them both by name. And we don’t even get to see their transformation sequences. What is this outrage?
On a show level, rather than a Netflix level, I’m not super thrilled that these new additions mean there are now more male superheroes than female, although hopefully that state of affairs won’t last forever? We’ll see when Netflix finally puts up the second half of the season.
But one thing I DID love is the fact that Chloe Bourgeois actually resists akumization because she wants so much to be a good superhero. We’ve never seen anyone do that before! That’s so badass! And actually totally in character for Chloe: I absolutely believe that Chloe Bourgeois is stubborn enough to heroically resist evil if she puts her mind to it. It’s just that previously all her stubbornness has been flowing the other way.
We also finish season 3 of The Good Place, which continues to be excellent, and I am crushed by the knowledge that the new season is coming out as I type and I won’t be able to see it till next year.
It’s impossible to discuss this show without spoilers, so I’m putting in a
One thing I love and admire about this show is its willingness to reinvent itself. The season kicks off with Eleanor meeting Chidi again (but on earth this time), and they could have spent much of the season getting the gang back together, having them learn about ethics again, seeing if they can in fact get better if they work together - but instead they change things up entirely just a few episodes in, when the gang overhears Michael and Janet explaining the point system, which means that they are now no longer eligible to earn more points and are therefore doomed to hell, and the show is off to explore a whole new philosophical question (which is nonetheless related to the other philosophical questions it has been exploring): how do you find meaning in life if you know that you’re doomed? What are the reasons to be good under those circumstances?
I really like the way that they weave together these philosophical issues with the storylines. The episode where Eleanor dives headfirst into determinism is a particular tour-de-force in this area.
And not content with that sudden about-face, the show reinvents itself a couple of more times before the season is over. It’s just fascinating to see how much the show can change while remaining at heart the same, just exploring new facets of its main core theme: what does it mean to be a good person?
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Date: 2019-10-07 01:49 pm (UTC)In better news.... New season of She-ra comes WHILE YOU ARE AT MY PLACE.
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Date: 2019-10-07 02:42 pm (UTC)In other news, I finished revisions of part one of the Little Red Riding Hood story about ten minutes ago, so clearly this Monday is coming up 100% me.
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Date: 2019-10-07 02:45 pm (UTC)Yay RRH story!
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Date: 2019-10-07 02:53 pm (UTC)Do you still want to beta-read the RRH story?
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Date: 2019-10-07 02:56 pm (UTC)And yes, She-Ra will provide us with a viewing experience we're [pretty much?? We hope??] guaranteed to love. DON'T DISAPPOINT US, SHE-RA. [... not a fan of Gilmmer's new costume; I like Catra's though]
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Date: 2019-10-07 02:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-07 07:37 pm (UTC)I am glad to hear that there are two new lady heroes too, though!
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Date: 2019-10-07 11:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-07 04:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-07 07:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-08 01:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-08 11:43 am (UTC)