The Expanse

S6E1

I'm glad the series is back. The visuals are still stunning. Most of the people are still annoying. I'm not at all sure where the story is headed.

WoT Episode 6

While that relationship was hinted at in the books I think Moiraine and Siuan being an actual couple worked really well here.

The part with Mat getting left behind seemed really weird but reading some things online it was apparently due to COVID and episode 6 being the last one they shot before they had to put the production on hold and Barney Harris leaving the show before they resumed shooting. I have no idea how they're going to handle it in-story beyond knowing that Mat was recast in season 2.

We got some more Tower politics and some great lines from Moiraine throughout the episode. I'm loving Rosamund Pike's performance as Moiraine.

Book Spoilers: With the emphasis on the Aes Sedai being more skeptical of prophecies and knowledge left over from the Age of Legends in this turning of the Wheel I suspect that they are mistaken about The Dark One's prison being at The Eye of the World and it's just the location of one of the Seals like it is in the books.

Also, I'm willing to bet the ter'angreals in Moiraine and Siuan's rooms led to a Dream Shard rather than anywhere physical considering it seemed to be an exact replica of Siuan's childhood hut and they seem to have changed Siuan's Talent from seeing Ta'veren to Dreaming in the show .

I can't watch Expanse S6 until I finish reading Expanse Book 9, and then maybe go back and watch Expanse S5 to catch my brain up with the show/book differences.

I thought I might need a show refresher but I just watched 6.1 and feel okay about knowing where we are. Holden's beard is pretty distracting. It's really good to see Bobbie and Avasarela again. That's all I've got at this point.

Has anyone else been watching The Shrink Next Door miniseries on Apple, starring Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell? The series finale drops this coming Friday.

It's based on the Joe Nocera podcast of the same name (which I have not listened to), about a real-life psychiatrist, Isaac Herschkopf (Rudd), who exploits (not sexually) his patient Marty Markowitz (Ferrell). The supporting cast includes Casey Wilson and Kathryn Hahn.

I've found it fascinating and disturbing, particularly since it's based on a true story. I am not a huge podcast person, but watching the news is doing in my head, so I've been thinking about giving it a go. Has anyone else listened to it?

I haven't been watching it but have definitely been interested from the previews. I know absolutely nothing about it other than who's in it, and didn't even know it was based on real people.

I didn't know TSND was based on a true story, until after we watched the first episode. I was afraid that would make it too heavy for me, but mostly, it has just increased the holy-shitness of it.

Here's a link to a Time article on Isaac Herschkopf and Marty Markowitz, but beware, it will SPOIL you for the basic plot of The Shrink Next Door. [link]

As usual, I wish I'd waited until the whole season dropped to watch it. I don't think I would have straight-out binged, but I prefer to decide when I'm done, and waiting for a week between episodes now gives shows a chance to slip my mind. < / old>

WoT: Moiraine has had some choice lines these last two episodes. " They're both big and they both brood. " indeed.

The cold open was fantastic. Though their de-aging of Tam effect was really rough. Can't wait to see more Aiel in action later in the series.

I'm a little iffy on Min. It's the only casting so far that hasn't made me really feel like it's the book character brought to life.

Glad we got to see all the pieces put together for the Dragon Reborn reveal though the editing felt a little off.

The cold open was fantastic.

I thought so too.

The Wheel of Time

This episode (1.07) is where I, as someone who didn't read the books, really started to care. I'd been enjoying it well enough, but now I'm in. Of course, this is one episode shy of what could be a year's hiatus. On the plus side, Amazon picked it up for a second season months ago.

I think I'll rewatch this whole season after the s1 finale, so I don't feel so at sea.

The Mindy Project

I caught some of this series when it debuted on Fox as a broadcast show, but I was still working for TWoP then, and it was hard to commit to shows I wasn't covering. I remember Fox cancelling it after season three, and Hulu picking it up for 4, 5, and 6, but I never got back to it until now.

I'm really enjoying it. It's light and sweet, but still manages to be funny (at least in season one). I need the sweetness and light, right now.

I think Kaling is a romantic. I like that about her. It occurred to me when I was watching her Four Weddings and a Funeral miniseries, and now I notices touches here and there in TMP. She favors flattering establishing shots of cities, often at night, that feel iconic, even in her little streaming TV series. I appreciate her sensibilities.