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matt_zimmerAlso reviews for the latest episode of Night Court, and the novel Holly.
Quantum Leap "The Outsider"
If it had actually been Jen who was fired, I'd figure her actress was leaving the show. Magic saying he's resigning instead means the plot will thicken.
If this is Tom's last episode (and it might be) I can safely note his character was entirely wasted. Love triangles suck, by the way. I am right about that opinion.
I am not the most observant viewer, but I seem to recall Ian used to go be he / him pronouns, and in this episode goes by they / them. Is it possible the character got some criticism there from the nonbinary community, especially because the show gave them a hot girlfriend? Maybe. But I don't object to it. It will take some getting used to when writing about them though.
The Leap of the Week was weak sauce. It often is, but yeah. I thought the newslady's empathy was pretty cool, but the episode itself indulged in a lot of cliches, including the idea that reporters are crusaders for truth and justice, which me living in 2024 gives me the context to know that is a crock of poo. On every level.
For the record, it's usually Ben who is the calm, leveling influence for strangers. The episode acting like he didn't actually possess that exact skill is bogus.
Gideon's role in the episode, and his potential for being the series' Big Bad was as ultimately wasted as Tom. Frankly, James Frain feels a little long in the tooth to still be playing these types of characters.
Is it possible Josh keeps dying because he's supposed to? There IS a certain amount of fate involved in entire Quantum Leap project. This is a question Ben should be asking sooner rather than later.
Not feeling this week. At all. **1/2.
Night Court "Broadway Danny Gurgs"
Interesting. Murder trials get held over for juries on this show. Answers a question about this franchise I've always had (going back to the 1980's).
I love that Dan asks the court reporter "dictating" the mime: "What could you possibly be typing?"
Lacretta is a good singer.
You can't go wrong casting Richard Kind in anything.
That camouflage costume WAS pretty good.
I'm not going to say the show is finding its groove. But the past few weeks have not been terrible. Stupid, yes. But not terrible. ***1/2.
Holly by Stephen King
And so we close out Stephen King Book Club with "Holly". There will be future entries upon future King books (for example the collection "You Like It Darker" comes out in May). But this review is the last until those new books come out. I have reviewed everything I own with this.
This happens to be the best Holly Gibney story. Mostly because it's the type of hard-boiled mystery "Mr. Mercedes" SHOULD have been, but wasn't. And also because the lack of supernatural elements make the cat-and-mouse between Holly and the Harrises that much more interesting and evenly matched.
It's interesting that Holly is going through a hard time. Her horrible mother died of Covid and she's started smoking again. She quits again at the end of the novel, but it's such a sad thing to see.
King says in the Afterward that although Holly shares his views on vaccinations, if he had a protagonist or major character who was an Anti-vaxxer, he would hope to reasonably represent their views. Even in 2023 Uncle Stevie still doesn't get it: That crap is NOT reasonable, and should never be treated as such. King's politics have evolved over the years, but his insistence in fair-mindedness in the current climate is lazy thinking. No other way to put it.
It IS a very political book, at least in the background, mostly because Covid was tragically turned into a political issue, as were vaccinations. In a sane country that would never have happened. It's not just the trauma of losing her awful mother. Holly is suffering the same trauma we all went through back then. And truth be told, we're still suffering it.
This is the first book I've seen King write that is very conscious of the fact that he has used (and overused) certain offensive words (like the n-word) in the past, and is sort of him acknowledging he does not have the license he claimed he did there in "On Writing". King's politics HAVE evolved, and his previous refusal to entertain the notion of cutting back on that type of thing, even slightly, is something he's starting to understand is actually something he needs to be more sensitive about. 60 books late, if you ask me. But the selling point of Stephen King is he's in his mid-seventies and you can still teach him new things. Amazing, but true.
Jerome is a wonderful character for the first time ever because Tyrone Feelgood isn't even MENTIONED.
But I especially dug Barbara Robinson, and her bravery in seeking out Olivia Thornsbury, and the fearlessness of her final essay for the poetry contest. "The poetry is my essay." That's hardcore. I also loved Olivia asking her "Do you understand how good you are at this?" What an amazing mentor.
I also cheered at the doomed Ellen Craslow for refusing to buckle under the Harrises' torture and tyranny. That woman had been to hell and back, and I love that she refuses to give those monsters any level of satisfaction. It felt very good.
King Connections Of Notes: Holly Gibney novel, and the events from all of her previous stories ("Mr. Mercedes", "Finders Keepers", "End Of Watch", "The Outsider", and "If It Bleeds") are all mentioned. Also Inside View, although that one's pretty much a gimme at this point.
That's a wrap for Stephen King Book Club (for now). I'll see you all in May when I review "You Like It Darker". Ooh, "Cujo" sequel! Can't wait! *****.
Quantum Leap "The Outsider"
If it had actually been Jen who was fired, I'd figure her actress was leaving the show. Magic saying he's resigning instead means the plot will thicken.
If this is Tom's last episode (and it might be) I can safely note his character was entirely wasted. Love triangles suck, by the way. I am right about that opinion.
I am not the most observant viewer, but I seem to recall Ian used to go be he / him pronouns, and in this episode goes by they / them. Is it possible the character got some criticism there from the nonbinary community, especially because the show gave them a hot girlfriend? Maybe. But I don't object to it. It will take some getting used to when writing about them though.
The Leap of the Week was weak sauce. It often is, but yeah. I thought the newslady's empathy was pretty cool, but the episode itself indulged in a lot of cliches, including the idea that reporters are crusaders for truth and justice, which me living in 2024 gives me the context to know that is a crock of poo. On every level.
For the record, it's usually Ben who is the calm, leveling influence for strangers. The episode acting like he didn't actually possess that exact skill is bogus.
Gideon's role in the episode, and his potential for being the series' Big Bad was as ultimately wasted as Tom. Frankly, James Frain feels a little long in the tooth to still be playing these types of characters.
Is it possible Josh keeps dying because he's supposed to? There IS a certain amount of fate involved in entire Quantum Leap project. This is a question Ben should be asking sooner rather than later.
Not feeling this week. At all. **1/2.
Night Court "Broadway Danny Gurgs"
Interesting. Murder trials get held over for juries on this show. Answers a question about this franchise I've always had (going back to the 1980's).
I love that Dan asks the court reporter "dictating" the mime: "What could you possibly be typing?"
Lacretta is a good singer.
You can't go wrong casting Richard Kind in anything.
That camouflage costume WAS pretty good.
I'm not going to say the show is finding its groove. But the past few weeks have not been terrible. Stupid, yes. But not terrible. ***1/2.
Holly by Stephen King
And so we close out Stephen King Book Club with "Holly". There will be future entries upon future King books (for example the collection "You Like It Darker" comes out in May). But this review is the last until those new books come out. I have reviewed everything I own with this.
This happens to be the best Holly Gibney story. Mostly because it's the type of hard-boiled mystery "Mr. Mercedes" SHOULD have been, but wasn't. And also because the lack of supernatural elements make the cat-and-mouse between Holly and the Harrises that much more interesting and evenly matched.
It's interesting that Holly is going through a hard time. Her horrible mother died of Covid and she's started smoking again. She quits again at the end of the novel, but it's such a sad thing to see.
King says in the Afterward that although Holly shares his views on vaccinations, if he had a protagonist or major character who was an Anti-vaxxer, he would hope to reasonably represent their views. Even in 2023 Uncle Stevie still doesn't get it: That crap is NOT reasonable, and should never be treated as such. King's politics have evolved over the years, but his insistence in fair-mindedness in the current climate is lazy thinking. No other way to put it.
It IS a very political book, at least in the background, mostly because Covid was tragically turned into a political issue, as were vaccinations. In a sane country that would never have happened. It's not just the trauma of losing her awful mother. Holly is suffering the same trauma we all went through back then. And truth be told, we're still suffering it.
This is the first book I've seen King write that is very conscious of the fact that he has used (and overused) certain offensive words (like the n-word) in the past, and is sort of him acknowledging he does not have the license he claimed he did there in "On Writing". King's politics HAVE evolved, and his previous refusal to entertain the notion of cutting back on that type of thing, even slightly, is something he's starting to understand is actually something he needs to be more sensitive about. 60 books late, if you ask me. But the selling point of Stephen King is he's in his mid-seventies and you can still teach him new things. Amazing, but true.
Jerome is a wonderful character for the first time ever because Tyrone Feelgood isn't even MENTIONED.
But I especially dug Barbara Robinson, and her bravery in seeking out Olivia Thornsbury, and the fearlessness of her final essay for the poetry contest. "The poetry is my essay." That's hardcore. I also loved Olivia asking her "Do you understand how good you are at this?" What an amazing mentor.
I also cheered at the doomed Ellen Craslow for refusing to buckle under the Harrises' torture and tyranny. That woman had been to hell and back, and I love that she refuses to give those monsters any level of satisfaction. It felt very good.
King Connections Of Notes: Holly Gibney novel, and the events from all of her previous stories ("Mr. Mercedes", "Finders Keepers", "End Of Watch", "The Outsider", and "If It Bleeds") are all mentioned. Also Inside View, although that one's pretty much a gimme at this point.
That's a wrap for Stephen King Book Club (for now). I'll see you all in May when I review "You Like It Darker". Ooh, "Cujo" sequel! Can't wait! *****.
