[OreoCookie]

Controversial hot take: Samurai Champloo is superior to Cowboy Bebop, in terms of story, characters and music.

Also, the last season of The Expanse has started to come out. The first episode was pretty good, albeit a bit depressing. But good. I heard that they won’t try to wrap up the entire story, thereby avoiding what happened to Game of Thrones. We shall see. But we are out for a good start, I say.

 

I loved that the tension among the various factions was palpable. Marco Inaros has to figure out how to go from revolutionary fighter to head of state with managerial duties who has to keep up with spread sheets, discuss how to ration food and supplies, etc. His son Philipp struggles with being relegated to window dressing, shut out of important discussions and being shushed by people in power (“The adults are talking now.”). The crew of the Roci is tense, too. Half a year in space has left a toll on them. At the end of season 5 when Aemos decided to take Peaches on board it appeared like a very funny joke. Now, not so funny. And Arveserala’s scene being snowed in in Marocco (!) immediately shows the precarious state Earth is in.

[subego]

I never watched Samurai Champloo. I assume it’s very different.

[OreoCookie]

It’s by the same people who did Cowboy Bebop, so it has all the good stuff that Cowboy Bebop has: great music, great fight scenes, cool characters. Rather than a Bebop theme, it’s based on hip hop. And rather than being set in the future, it is in the recent past (late Edo period in Japan). If you are a fan of Cowboy Bebop, you should definitely check it out. Personally, I find it better in every way. And I really like Cowboy Bebop!

[subego]

I’m sure I’d like it!

The way my tastes run, I’m wondering if that would still leave Bebop on top. I like hip-hop, and Japanese period stuff, but like sci-fi and jazz more.

[OreoCookie]

I’m not a hip hop person by any stretch. But somehow Samurai Champloo jives better. In any case, even if you end up ranking it below Cowboy Bebop, you’ll have a great time.

[subego]

Oh, I’m sure I’d love it, and I’ve never heard anyone say something bad about it.

I guess what took me aback by the original comment is a big reason Bebop resonated was it captured a certain late 90s ennui about the future. That’s not impossible to capture in a period piece, but it’s a lot tougher because we know what the future is in a period piece.

Of course, that really doesn’t have anything to do with the quality of the writing in and of itself, or how well integrated the music is, so it’s not really countering your point.

[OreoCookie]

Originally Posted by subego 

Oh, I’m sure I’d love it, and I’ve never heard anyone say something bad about it.

I guess what took me aback by the original comment is a big reason Bebop resonated was it captured a certain late 90s ennui about the future. That’s not impossible to capture in a period piece, but it’s a lot tougher because we know what the future is in a period piece.

I never got to see either in period, but in the mid- to late-2000s. Cowboy Bebop certainly has 1990s anime lines in its drawings, very distinct and period correct. Samurai Champloo is already an evolution, more flow rather than sharp, angled lines. Both are beautiful.

But IMHO both can't touch the two seasons of Ghost in the Shell anime series from 2004–2006. The movie is excellent, but the series is two notches above that. The writing still holds up perfectly. For example, the first season is about how social media can cause mass movements without a figure head, organization or central planner. Does that somehow ring a bell? And the story line of the second season is in part about Japan's alignment with the US, there is a schism in the government between old-school hardliners who want to stay closely aligned and the then prime minister who wants to forge a more independent path. Sound familiar? The other big story line is about Japan's refugee policy. This was written 15 effin' years ago, before e. g. Twitter existed! Pure brilliance in writing with substance. And the music is top notch (Yoko Kanno does not disappoint), the sound tracks (yes, plural) is still in active rotation.

[OreoCookie]

I was really positively surprised how the creators of The Expanse managed to wrap up the series. Yes, I hate them that there will be no new episodes. And I would have liked more episodes in Season 6. Just more. But they went out with a bang. The character-centric bits were great, many exchanges epic. The space battles were OMG. And the resolution at the end was satisfying. Maybe a bit too much happiness and joy at the end, but I take it. The characters have gone through enough.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Wait, this week is the last episode??

I would never have expected that. I’ve been hate-watching this mediocre pos for some unknown reason, but if I have to look at holden’s resting brooding face or Marco’s eyeliner ever again it’ll still be too soon.

[OreoCookie]

I’m genuinely surprised, ShortcutToMoncton. The Expanse is typically considered one of the best scifi series out there. For me it easily beats out any incarnation of Star Trek (and I am a big fan). The only other series that can keep up with it is Bablyon 5 IMHO (and this is being relaunched — I’m super excited). It has consistent and relatively realistic physics, great space battles, which actually make sense (not like in Star Trek where Kirk outsmarts his opponent by noticing that space is three-dimensional ).

But horses for courses.

[Waragainstsleep]

Anyone seen Ricky Gervais' Afterlife on Netflix?

[Thorzdad]

I’ve seen the listing, but gave it a pass. I’m not really a Gervais fan.

[OreoCookie]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

I’ve seen the listing, but gave it a pass. I’m not really a Gervais fan.

Same here. It's too much aggression and derision for my taste, and too little introspection.

[Waragainstsleep]

You might find that hat one a little different. Theres a lot of introspection I'd say.

[OreoCookie]

Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep 

You might find that hat one a little different. Theres a lot of introspection I'd say.

I might give it a try then. Thanks!

[andi*pandi]

I think I watched that a while back. As a person who similarly finds gervais grating, Afterlife was not typical.

[Brien]

Started Yellowstone.

[Doc HM]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

I think I watched that a while back. As a person who similarly finds gervais grating, Afterlife was not typical.

Did not like Season 3 nearly as much. Tonally a lot cruder and ruder. Also pretty problematic treatment of female characters in relationships, not least the absent Roxy.

[Thorzdad]

Have been hate-watching the Boba Fett series on D+. It’s...not good.

[Laminar]

Well I for one have always wanted a story to humanize the Tuscan Raiders. Fortunately, he found one of the "good" tribes that doesn't murder people, except when they capture, enslave, and murder people.

[subego]

Tusken.

Napoleon was the Tuscan raider.

[Laminar]

Now I'm hungry.

[Thorzdad]

Recipe?

[subego]

Ingredients:

3 womp rats…

[Laminar]

https://juliasalbum.com/creamy-tuscan-chicken/

I just GIS for Tuscan Chicken, no recommendation on the above.

[andi*pandi]

Originally Posted by Doc HM 

Did not like Season 3 nearly as much. Tonally a lot cruder and ruder. Also pretty problematic treatment of female characters in relationships, not least the absent Roxy.

I don't think I watched that season.

Currently catching up on Home Economics. Light. Funny. Only slightly cringe. Cheech was on the last episode and made a Dave isn't here injoke.
Not sure if I should recommend Being Erica or not. At times it was fun but then would suddenly go darker than you expected. The ending was... meh.

Just look up was excellent.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

Have been hate-watching the Boba Fett series on D+. It’s...not good.

Any thoughts on the season overall?

 

It started slow. The combat seemed weak and as though they were fighting in slow motion, like the 50+ year old actors were doing their own stunts instead of using actual, spry stunt doubles for the matrial arts work.

I think Mando showing up really improved things.

It'd be reeeeally easy to poke holes through the finale, but overall it was fun, my 9 year old loved it.

[MacNNFamous]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJp8jZJizkQ

Give yer balls a tug, tit fucker

[andi*pandi]

A whole show just about Shoresy? I dunno, but we'll see. I find the character a bit much. However Letterkenny is a fun show. I wonder how much is scripted and how much is just the actors riffing.

Season 2 of the witcher was enjoyable, not as confusing plotwise (there's a meta comment about that) but more character development.

Currently for light fare enjoying Home Economics, Abbott Elementary, and, kind of, The Real O'Neils. The lengths I will go to avoid finishing the Expanse or watching anything heavy...

[Thorzdad]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Any thoughts on the season overall?

 

It started slow. The combat seemed weak and as though they were fighting in slow motion, like the 50+ year old actors were doing their own stunts instead of using actual, spry stunt doubles for the matrial arts work.

I think Mando showing up really improved things.

It'd be reeeeally easy to poke holes through the finale, but overall it was fun, my 9 year old loved it.

 

I really wanted to nope out as soon as Grogu showed up. I honestly don’t get the appeal of the character. But, I rode it out.

Headmaster Skywalker was a dick.

They seemed to take all of that mystical, magical time Fett spent in the desert, seemingly building him into something much more than himself, and just pissed it away. None of it seemed to matter much beyond giving him a weapon to off the baddie with.

I just came away feeling like I wanted the time back. And I basically like Star Wars crap, though I am definitely not the fanboy much of this show was aimed at.

[MacNNFamous]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

A whole show just about Shoresy? I dunno, but we'll see.

Fuck you Andi, your mom ugly cried because she left the lens cap on the camcorder last night!

[andi*pandi]

Fuck you Rob, your mom just liked my Instagram post from two years ago in Puerto Vallarta.

[Doc HM]

Been slow to catch up as I've been working but I now after 15 seasons I have a supernatural shaped hole in my viewing life.
Been a prt of the landscape for a looooooong time. Like loosing a remote family member. A bit.

Was quite up and down on the finale. As it started I was noooooooooo this isn't the end the characters needed, which morphed into oh wait maybe it is before ending up with I guess a please everyone ending was never possible. It certainly wasn't GoT style send of so we can be thankful for that.
May have to revert to season 1 and redo.

[Brien]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

 

I really wanted to nope out as soon as Grogu showed up. I honestly don’t get the appeal of the character. But, I rode it out.

Headmaster Skywalker was a dick.

They seemed to take all of that mystical, magical time Fett spent in the desert, seemingly building him into something much more than himself, and just pissed it away. None of it seemed to matter much beyond giving him a weapon to off the baddie with.

I just came away feeling like I wanted the time back. And I basically like Star Wars crap, though I am definitely not the fanboy much of this show was aimed at.

 

The finale was awful. I generally like Robert Rodriguez (and the Vespa gang is SO him) but it felt like the worst parts of Spy Kids/Shark Boy. Cheesy, incoherent. It’s like they were given a corporate mandate to make this show and didn’t know what to do with the character. I’d have much preferred ‘Dances with Tuskans’ for a whole season vs. whatever this was. Like… they were so indecisive they just decided to turn it into Mando S3 half-way through.

[Thorzdad]

Originally Posted by Brien 

 

The finale was awful. I generally like Robert Rodriguez (and the Vespa gang is SO him) but it felt like the worst parts of Spy Kids/Shark Boy. Cheesy, incoherent. It’s like they were given a corporate mandate to make this show and didn’t know what to do with the character. I’d have much preferred ‘Dances with Tuskans’ for a whole season vs. whatever this was. Like… they were so indecisive they just decided to turn it into Mando S3 half-way through.

As I understand it, the show was unofficially considered as Mando s2.5. S3 is coming.

[andi*pandi]

Trying to cancel at least one of these subscriptions. Hulu is likely.

Lately on Apple TV:
Ted Lasso Season 2: finally started it, still enjoyable characters but not as much suspense over plot, so far.
Severance: First episode was slow. Then it really got interesting in a quirky way.
Suspicion: Started well but got ridiculously stupid.
Slow Horses: Because Gary Oldman is so very good even when playing an old fart, and spies. Very well done. They are doing this one ep a week style which is hard. Guess they figured out binging is bad for business?

D+:
Moon Knight: A marvel story I had no background at all in but so far we are loving this. Kid is appalled that we have to wait a whole week for another episode. Jes like the ol' days, I drawl.

Netflix:
We eagerly await Stranger Things 4.

[Laminar]

We get Hulu/D+/ESPN through Verizon as part of our plan. I also get Apple music through Verizon, so I'm planning to ditch Amazon Prime before renewal, next October. Floated cancelling Netflix to the wife, but she veto'd that for the occasional movie or episode of Queer Eye that she likes to veg on.

We just watched episode 2 of Moon Knight last night. I don't know if the Marvel movies have ruined pacing for me, but the shows feel so slow.

[Doc HM]

Super late to the party but I am enjoying Elementary. What on earth is Lucy Liu doing in it. It's so low budget old school episodic TV, but it still manages to to be fun. Season 2 sprinkles some additional canon characters in (loved Sean Pertwee as Lestrade) and the take on Moriarty is well done. 7 seasons to plough through which is a bonus.

[The Final Shortcut]

The incredible Barry season 3 is on
The incredible Better Call Saul season 6 (final season) is on
The incredible and weird Atlanta season 3 is on
Tokyo Vice is also recommended although I have comments
Just watched the first episode of Under the Banner of Heaven, pretty decent so far and fills everyone’s lack of LDS content

[andi*pandi]

Originally Posted by Doc HM 

Super late to the party but I am enjoying Elementary. What on earth is Lucy Liu doing in it. It's so low budget old school episodic TV, but it still manages to to be fun. Season 2 sprinkles some additional canon characters in (loved Sean Pertwee as Lestrade) and the take on Moriarty is well done. 7 seasons to plough through which is a bonus.

Agreed up until about, oh, season 4 or 5...

[Waragainstsleep]

Finally finished The Expanse. I wish there was more.

[OreoCookie]

Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep 

Finally finished The Expanse. I wish there was more.

Yes!
The last episodes were good, but felt a bit rushed. I wish they could have spread the story over one regular or even two seasons. There was more than enough material, me thinks. But the episodes were great with some great lines. Drummer’s speech aimed at Inaros was legendary (“Live shamed. And die empty!”), easily among the best lines in the season. Come to think of it, apart from Amos’ “I’m that guy.”, the best lines were uttered by women. What a great series. Easily among the best TV series ever in my head and at the top of sci fi. I really love DS9 and B5, but The Expanse plays in a different league.

By the way, I finally watched The Matrix 4, and I was surprised by how good it was. Easily, it was the second-best Matrix movie in my book, without, of course, ever getting close to the original. It didn’t take itself too seriously in parts (“We thought that you didn’t want to make any more of them?!”), and the story was consistent as far as the Matrix goes. I liked that they didn’t completely explain the new political situation nor explain what Smith was doing.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by OreoCookie 

By the way, I finally watched The Matrix 4, and I was surprised by how good it was. Easily, it was the second-best Matrix movie in my book, without, of course, ever getting close to the original. It didn’t take itself too seriously in parts (“We thought that you didn’t want to make any more of them?!”), and the story was consistent as far as the Matrix goes. I liked that they didn’t completely explain the new political situation nor explain what Smith was doing.

I got stuck at home with a cold a couple of weeks ago so I raided Redbox for some goodies, this was one of them. Didn't like it. The game dev scenes put it at too specific of a point in time, culture-wise, and I don't think that will age well. The characters were too caricature-y, with the Chad husband and asshole boss with no socks.

 

The whole rescue scene for Trinity and the drama around it didn't make any sense - "we can't just go back in there like we did last time," then they go back in there like they did last time. And what the hell was up with the metal-type Pokemon that the shipmates keep as pets?

I watched No Time to Die the same day and almost died laughing when the actor who played the pretty-boy asshole "friend" who turns out to be the bad guy played the EXACT SAME CHARACTER in both movies. He apparently looks like a type.

Tied with Revolutions for least favorite. Reloaded's CGI looks really dated now, but the concepts were amazing, as were the fight and car chase scenes. And the soundtrack.

[andi*pandi]

we watched matrix 4 also this weekend. Discussion over how much meta was too meta. Enjoyed some callbacks but had not watched 2 or 3 recently enough to remember crazy french guy etc. Mostly liked it, although it was slower/introspective than expected.

[subego]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Reloaded's CGI looks really dated now, but the concepts were amazing, as were the fight and car chase scenes.

The whole idea where jumping off a car hood planted the car into the asphalt was truly fantastic.

[Laminar]

[subego]

Love it!

It’s not easy being green.

[OreoCookie]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

we watched matrix 4 also this weekend. Discussion over how much meta was too meta. Enjoyed some callbacks but had not watched 2 or 3 recently enough to remember crazy french guy etc. Mostly liked it, although it was slower/introspective than expected.

I think it was a good idea to make the movie meta. Clearly, it was a risk and not everyone is going to like it, but I prefer that to a CGI bonanza with no story. I’m glad they de-emphasized humans as power plants, and you if you squint you could see the much more interesting take where humans serve as the CPU/GPU hardware that the AIs run on.

@Laminar
I think I understand your point, there are certainly some things that aren’t going to age well. But honestly, I wasn’t expecting a timeless classic. To me the bar, being better than Matrix 2 and 3, has been passed. A low bar, admittedly, but nevertheless a good bar.

 

I also wish they went just a tiny bit more into why some AIs work with humans and what such a society looks like. But I’m not mad that they did. Editing was pretty tight, I thought.

[Thorzdad]

I’ve been rewatching Legion on Hulu. Man, that was a well-made show.

[The Final Shortcut]

Let’s be honest here: Matrix 4 is dog shit. Like everything else the Wachowskis have made except for Matrix.

Just watched Batman. It was….ok, actually pretty good! A bit dark and grim but this is Batman; it was well done overall. Zoe Kravitz is an alien goddess. I’m still scarred by the misery that was Joker and this one was tense and kinetic.