Category Archives: Uncategorized

“The Kiss,” Auguste Rodin, 1896

Bronze.

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A short review of Season 2 of “From” (2023).

“From” Season 2 (2023) wasn’t quite as good as Season 1.  The show borrows so much its obvious inspiration, “Lost” (2004-2010), that it also inherits that program’s central flaw — an overabundance of mysteries that confuse the narrative.

Season 1 was … mostly a self-enclosed, tidy horror tale that was reminiscent of the various iterations of “The Twilight Zone” — waylaid travelers in a mysteriously  inescapable town are stalked by supernatural monsters.  Smaller mysteries were peppered into the plot, and for me those story points were mostly just distracting — but it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the show.

Season 2, however, introduced so many subplot mysteries that the story sometimes became a little difficult to follow.  (Or are they really subplots?  We’re now shown that the monsters of Season 1 are only one element of the supernatural landscape that our protagonists must survive.)

My complaint above should be taken in context, though — “From” is still the scariest show on television.  It’s got some really good writing and some terrific characters, with a few standout actors that hit a home run every time they’re onscreen.  One is David Alpay as a the group’s hilarious, antisocial genius; another is Scott McCord as a gentle giant with the mind of an eight-year-old boy.

“From” is still an amazing watch.  The second season wasn’t perfect, but it was still great.  It remains the show that I am surprised that so few people are talking about.



from

“Come.  And be my baby.”

Some prophets say the world is gonna end tomorrow
But others say we’ve got a week or two
The paper is full of every kind of blooming horror
And you sit wondering
What you’re gonna do.
I got it.
Come.  And be my baby.

— excerpt from Maya Angelou’s “Come and Be My Baby”



Calypso_Heat_Wave_(1957)_press_photo_of_Maya_Angelou

goddam it they out to call them TRIP-flops not flip-flops

i should sue

and i can’t call it a sports injury if i was lurching across the kitchen for a second pork chop, god damn



“Forest Glade, Crimea,” Arkhip Kuindzhi, 1887

Oil on paper mounted on cardboard.

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You poly understand.

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Untitled photo by Anne Brigman, circa 1910

Platinum print, mounted on card.

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The Nolan Italiana.

Fried mild Italian sausage, melted mozzarella, and spaghetti sauce, served on toast.



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A few quick words on the series premiere of “Secret Invasion” (2023).

I’ve never actually read a comic book featuring the shapeshifting alien Skrulls.  The story concept always seemed too campy for me.  (And it still does.)  But I still had loads of fun with the first episode of Marvel’s “Secret Invasion” (2023).  I’d cheerfully rate this new limited series an 8 out of 10.

There are two clear reasons here.  The first is that I love comic book stories in which ordinary, non-powered characters are working with (or against) superpowered characters — it makes the story and action feel more grounded in reality, and the juxtaposition is always fun to explore.

The second is that the Marvel Cinematic Universe just happens to be good at the cloak-and-dagger stuff.  It’s a little surprising, if you think about it.  Here we have a fictional universe known for linchpinned by story conceits derived from science fiction or magic.  Yet the MCU’s stories about spies, governments and politics remain fan favorites.  (Look at the broad-based appeal of 2014’s excellent “Captain America: Winter Soldier,” for example.)  As I’d hoped, I really enjoyed the twists and surprises of the first episode.

Samuel L. Jackson, Martin Freeman, Emilia Clarke are always a pleasure to watch.  And I’m starting to understand that Ben Mendelsohn is really terrific too.

This looks to be one of the better MCU outings.  I recommend it.



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Railyards north of Campbell Avenue SE, Roanoke, Virginia, June 2023