Paul Levinson's Blog: Levinson at Large, page 219

24 Legacy Season 1 Finale: All About Relationships

A fine - better than fine - finale to 24 Legacy's first season tonight.  The series still has the punch of the original, and the power to move us with stories that make us care about the complex characters.   The original series as well as Legacy have been dismissed in some places as adrenalin joy rides, but there was always more to the first, and that still holds for the second.

In fact, Eric Carter at this point, after the end of the first season, has far more self-awareness than did Jack Bauer at the end of his first.  Jack developed that later.   But since Eric's wife survived this season, Eric can continue a relationship, rather than struggling to build another one, as Jack never (for one reason or another) completely did.

The truth is that relationships are always what 24 was most about.  Tony Almeida was a much better person when Michelle was alive.  In 24 Legacy, he barely manages to do the right thing - and in fact would have killed the kidnapped girl had he not received the call.  Like Jack, he may never fully recover from the loss of his truest love.

Which brings us to Senator Donovan.  He was about to withdraw from the Presidential race, to be able to devote full attention to his mourning Rebecca.  But his decision not to withdraw makes him a much more interesting character - like Jack and Tony, he will never completely get over this loss.

24 Legacy needs another season, especially given what's been going on in our real world on an intensely daily basis.   24 was never completely escapist, given that it began its run after September 11.  And now 24 Legacy is especially relevant in a very different way.

Donovan running full out for President, Eric on the job, supported by his wife Nicole.  Bring it on!


See also 24 Legacy 1.1: Dammit! I Liked It ... 24 Legacy 1.2: Heroes and Villains ... 24 Legacy 1.3: First Big Card Revealed ... 24 Legacy 1.4: Who's Gabriel? ... 24 Legacy 1.5: Who's Left? ... 24 Legacy 1.6: George Washington Bridge ... 24 Legacy 1.7: Tony! ... 24 Legacy 1.8:  Terrorists vs. the Hood ... 24 Legacy 1.9: The Personal ... 24 Legacy Penultimate: Eric vs. Tony!



Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music

SFWA Science Fiction Bundle!

Hey, SFWA (Science Fiction Writers of America, an organization with international members of which I was President way back in 1998-2001) has teamed up with StoryBundle (offering curated assortments of ebooks at incredibly low prices for the bundle since 2012, helmed by Jason Chen) to offer the first ever SFWA Science Fiction Bundle.

Here's how it works:  You pay as much or as little as you want (but no less than $5) for these six science fiction novels:

Saiensu Fikushon 2016 by TOBI Hirotaka, Toh Enjoe and Taiyo FujiiBorrowed Tides by Paul LevinsonThe Weave by Nancy Jane MooreTruck Stop Earth by Michael A. ArmstrongChildren of Arkadia by M. Darusha WehmBeyond the Gates by Catherine WellsAnd, if you'd like the following six additional bonus books, just kick in a minimum of $15, and they'll be yours in addition to the original six:

Unidentified Funny Objects by Alex ShvartsmanFactoring Humanity by Robert J. SawyerStrangers Among Us by Susan Forest and Lucas K. LawTech Heaven by Linda NagataThe Burning Eye by John F. CarrThe Leaves of October by Don Sakers
These books were all selected - curated, in the modern digital parlance - by current SFWA President Cat Rambo.  Hey, I know she has discerning tastes, because she included Borrowed Tides (about the first starship to Alpha Centauri).  But I can also tell you I read and much enjoyed some of the other books, as well, including my friend Rob Sawyer's Factoring Humanity (also about Alpha Centauri, a very different kind of story), and (also unlike Borrowed Tides) a 1999 Hugo Award nominee.

Here's why this story bundle makes lots of sense (and saves you lots of dollars and cents) financially. Borrowed Tides is priced at $4.99.   I may lower the price once in a blue moon for a special sale, but I don't believe in giving my books away for free, and never will.  So, for the price of Borrowed Tides, if the novel has ever struck your interest, you can get it through the StoryBundle along with five other novels.  And, for just an additional $10, you get six more books.

The books will be let out of the bundle - i.e., the sale ends - in just 20 days.  More about this, including a handy link to buy the bundle, over here.  Enjoy!

Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music

Oasis: Possibilities

I caught the pilot for Oasis last night on Amazon Prime.   It definitely has possibilities.

The set-up is something we've seen and read many times before - an Earth in bad shape just a few decades into the future has apparently discovered faster-than-light travel, and is setting up a colony on some habitable world out there in the galaxy.   Also familiar is the discovery that this new world isn't such a nice place, either, and in fact has something very strange and likely deadly about it.

What's different and appealing about Oasis, though, is the point of view character is a Scottish chaplain, which puts Oasis, based on Michel Faber's The Book Of Strange New Things, which puts this pilot in James Blish (A Case of Conscience) and Mary Doria Russell (The Sparrow) territory. Now this is more unusual terrain indeed, and one which I explored in my Touching the Face of the Cosmos: On the Intersection of Space Travel and Religion anthology, so I'm especially glad to see it on an Amazon series.

At this point, though - at the end of just one hour - it's unclear (as I guess it should be) what's happening to our colonists on this new planet, and what role our chaplain will be play in understanding and combatting it.  Since the problem has already resulted in the death of four human colonists, apparently because they're seeing visions of people and animals (a horse, in one case) they knew and loved and left behind on Earth, there's no doubt that Chaplain Peter will have a lot to fathom. And since we do also know that Peter lost his young wife to illness on Earth, and that the head of the colony, now missing, specifically requested Peter's presence before disappearing, we can expect Peter to be put to the test personally as well as professionally in applying his faith and smarts to the problem of survival of the colonists and in turn the survival of humanity.

Which adds up to a good reason to want to see more of this narrative, and encourage Amazon to go for a series.  See it, and if you like it, check off the boxes on Amazon.



another new planet for humanity? Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music

24 Legacy Season 1 Penultimate: Eric vs. Tony!

The best episode so far on 24 Legacy - the next-to-last of what I hope will be the first of many seasons - which had all the power and unexpected alignments of the classic 24.

Tony Almeida, who came on board as a good guy, is now a bad guy, because he's working for CIA honcho Sims, who's a pretty bad guy himself.  The only thing that stands in the way of Tony killing Naseri's young daughter is Eric, who is determined to save her, both as the only way to save Rebecca, and because it's the decent thing to do.

Sims could call Tony off, but he won't do that, so it's up to Andy to unlock Sim's phone, so Senator Donovan can make the call,   And just for good measure, Keith has taken out (either unconscious or dead) Pang, sent over by Sims - which I had a little pang about, because I liked the actor C. S. Lee as Masuka on Dexter, but what can you do?

But that's what I mean about great and surprising alignments - Tony working with the bad side of American espionage, Eric and Senator Donovan on the same side, along with Keith and Stiles' niece - not too shabby an alliance, all devoted to saving Rebecca--

Who, it turns out, was responsible for kidnapping Naseri's daughter in the first place!

The show has found its rhythm and niche, in terms of sheer action and twists, and I'm looking forward to next week and days to come in the future.

See also 24 Legacy 1.1: Dammit! I Liked It ... 24 Legacy 1.2: Heroes and Villains ... 24 Legacy 1.3: First Big Card Revealed ... 24 Legacy 1.4: Who's Gabriel? ... 24 Legacy 1.5: Who's Left? ... 24 Legacy 1.6: George Washington Bridge ... 24 Legacy 1.7: Tony! ... 24 Legacy 1.8:  Terrorists vs. the Hood ... 24 Legacy 1.9: The Personal

Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music

Homeland Season 6 Finale: Chilling - and True to Life

A chilling conclusion tonight to Homeland Season 6 - not just chilling on its own terms, but deeply disturbing because of how close it comes to what we see in this country, and in Washington, off the television drama screen right now.  So close, in fact, that it raises the question, again, of how much of this was written after Trump was elected.

Because the twist here is that the President-elect, almost assassinated, saved only by Carrie's and Peter's heroism, and Peter's sacrifice of his life, has turned into a Trump-like paranoid in the White House, arresting not only Dar, but Saul.   President Keane, of course, has reason to be paranoid - she was almost assassinated - whereas Trump has none.  But, even so, her transformation is profoundly unsettling, to say the least.

Dar, in prison, admits that he did a lot of wrong things - things that set in motion the assassination attempt, which he didn't want to happen.  We know that because he was telling Carrie the truth in those frantic moments on the phone - that getting her out of the hotel was a ruse, which would cost her her life. And Carrie listened to him, believed him, and the President-elect survived.

Dat also says he saw something off in Keane, something not right, which is why he was conspiring to what - somehow get her not to get into the Oval Office, without killing her.  We don't know exactly what he intended, but apparently he was right about Keane.

Peter getting killed was grievous.   And, now, his heroism seems undilutedly justified only for saving Carrie. He has been a great character, even this season, especially this season, and he'll be missed.

And so the curtain comes down on Season 6, broadcast against the stranger reality we inhabit.  Carrie will have her work cut out for her in Season 7, with Saul arrested, Dar (who turned out not to be 100% bad) in jail, Peter gone ... and Keane turning into Trump on steroids.

See ya next year.

See also Homeland 6.1: Madam President-Elect ... Homeland 6.2: Parallel Program ... Homeland 6.3: Potentials ... Homeland 6.4: "A Man with Painted Hair" ... Homeland 6.5: The Attack on Carrie's Brownstone ... Homeland 6.7: The Arch Villain ... Homeland 6.8: Peter's Problem ... Homeland 6.9: The Tide Begins to Turn ... Homeland 6.10: Fake News! ... Homeland 6.11: Quinn and Dar
And see also Homeland 5.1: Moving into the Age of Snowden ... Homeland 5.2: Who Wants to Kill Carrie ... Homeland 5.3: Carrie and Kerry ... Homeland 5.5: All Quinn ... Homeland 5.6: Saul Wises Up ... Homeland 5.7: Tough to Watch ... Homeland 5.9: Finally! ... Homeland 5.10: Homeland and Homeland ... Homeland 5.11: Allison as Primo Villain ... Homeland Season 5 Finale: RIPs
And see also Homeland 4.1-2: Carrie's State of Mind ... Homeland 4.3: Quinn and Carrie ... Homeland 4.4: Carrie's Counterpart ... Homeland 4.5: Righteous Seduction ... Homeland 4.6: The Biggest Reveal ... Homeland 4.7: The Manifestation ... Homeland 4.8: Saving Someone's Life ... Homeland 4.9: Hitchcock Would've Loved It ... Homeland 4.10: The List ... Homeland 4.12: Out of this Together
And see also Homeland 3.1: Sneak Preview Review ... Homeland 3.2: Sneak Preview Review ... Homeland 3.3: Two Prisons ... Homeland 3.4: Twist! ...Homeland 3.6: Further Down the Rabbit Hole ... Homeland 3.7: Revealing What We Already Knew ... Homeland 3.8: Signs of Life ...Homeland 3.9: Perfect Timing ... Homeland 3.10: Someone Has to Die ... Homeland 3.11: The Loyalist ... Homeland Season 3 Finale: Redemption and Betrayal
And see Homeland 2.1-2: Sneak Preview Review ... Homeland 2.3-5: Sneak Preview Review ... Homeland 2.6: What Brody Knows ... Homeland 2.7: Love Me Tinder ... Homeland 2.8: The Personal and the Professional ...Homeland Season 2 Finale: The Shocker and the Reality
And see also  Homeland on Showtime ... Homeland 1.8: Surprises ... Homeland Concludes First Season: Exceptional

Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music

Colony Season 2 Finale: Out and About

Colony ended its second season tonight - yes, second season, not the series, with the good news announced a few days ago that there will be a third season in 2018 - with an episode pulsing with ambiguity, darkness, evil in the air, and a dollop of hope for humanity.  In other words, the way Colony has been telling its story all along.

About that dollop of hope: the collaborating sergeant letting Will and family get out of LA was an inspiring moment.  On some deep level, human blood is still a lot thicker than working with aliens water.

Snyder, who already showed himself to have some glimmers of humanity and decency, also put in a good show, choosing to go with the Bowmans rather than the safer job in collaborator headquarters in Europe.  But he activates some sort of device at the end, which no one other than he and entities we likely  haven't yet met know about - so, he likely has more up his sleeve than just decency.

Meanwhile, Broussard and Madeline, for very different reasons, aren't leaving LA, which leaves us not knowing what becomes of them - at least, not until next season.  Broussard certainly won't go down without a fight, and as for Madeline - well, it looks as if she's just moments from being destroyed, but if that's all that's going to happen to her next season, why not just show us that right now?

The upshot: as our world, off screen, seems to be going to hell in a hand basket, whatever exactly that means, Colony in its dark, brooding totalitarian vs. human freedom story is not only uncannily relevant but even comforting to see on some level.   And that with still barely a whiff of what and who the alien hosts really are.

See you back here next year, if not sooner.

See also Colony 2.1: Prelude ... Colony 2.2: 1969 ... Colony 2.3: The Wall ... Colony 2.7: Countdowns and Intentions ... Colony 2.8: What Passes for a Happy Ending ... Colony 2.9: Together Again ... Colony 2.10: The Fight Continues ... Colony 2.11: Twist ... Colony 2.12: The List

And see also Colony 1.1: Aliens with Potential ... 1.2: Compelling ... 1.5: Questions ... 1.6: The Provost ... Colony 1.7: Broussard ... Colony 1.8: Moon Base and Transit Zones ... Colony 1.9: Robot Arm ... Colony Season 1 Finale: Not Quite Enough



Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music

The Americans 5.5: Wrong about the Bugs

Well, the robins are finally beginning to come home to roost on The Americans 5.5 - or, more precisely, the bugs or pests that the Soviets think the Americans are nefariously breeding to attack Soviet crops and starve the Soviet people.

Elizabeth discovers that the scientist she's bedding is actually trying to create a super-grain, resistant to pests. which can feed the world.  The Center, in other words, has been dead wrong about these American scientists are trying to do.

Understandably, Philip is upset, to say the least, when Elizabeth lets him know about this.  In a moving scene at the end, Philips says he's been upset about this - killing people - for a long time. Killing an innocent person is even worse.  When Elizabeth offers to do this on her own, from now on, to relieve Philip of the burden, he says no, it's us - the two of us, the couple who are Soviet agents, have to stop doing this.

But how will that happen?  Though Gabriel is always sympathetic to their plight, he can't even bring himself to let Philip's son see him.  Or maybe Gabriel did that precisely because he is indeed sensitive to what Philip is going through, and wants to protect one of his best agents.

Whatever the exact reason, relationships are clearly coming to a boil on The Americans.  And that's not even including Stan's new love - who, if she is a Soviet agent, would throw another serious monkey wrench into all of this.

I keep thinking that Philip shouldn't get so close to Stan, shouldn't be tailing him, even when he's in disguise.  And that's because I'm convinced that, sooner or later, Stan will discover the truth about his neighbors.

Just a matter of time ...

See also The Americans 5.1: The Theft ... The Americans 5.2: Oleg and Stan ... The Americans 5.3: Cowboys and Bugs ... The Americans 5.4: Dating, Soviet-Spy Style
And see also The Americans 4.4: Life and Death ... The Americans 4.6: Martha, Martha, Martha ... The Americans 4.8: Whither Martha? ... The Day After The Americans 4.9 ... The Americans 4.10: Outstanding! ... The Americans 4.11: Close Call ... The Americans 4.12: Detente and Secret History
And see also The Americans 3.1: Caring for People We Shouldn't ... The Americans 3.3: End Justified the Means ...  The Americans 3.4: Baptism vs. Communism ... The Americans 3.6: "Jesus Came Through for Me Tonight" ...The Americans 3.7: Martha. My Dear ... The Americans 3.8: Martha, Part 2 ... The Americans 3.10: The Truth ... The Americans 3.12: The Unwigging ... The Americans Season 3 Finale: Turning a Paige
And see also The Americans 2.1-2: The Paradox of the Spy's Children ... The Americans 2.3: Family vs. Mission ... The Americans 2.7: Embryonic Internet and Lie Detection ... The Americans 2.9: Gimme that Old Time Religion ...The American 2.12: Espionage in Motion ... The Americans Season 2 Finale: Second Generation

And see also The Americans: True and Deep ... The Americans 1.4: Preventing World War III ... The Americans 1.11:  Elizabeth's Evolution ... The Americans Season 1 Finale: Excellent with One Exception


You May Like TheseDigital McLuhan: A Guide to the Informa…$11.90$37.95 (8)New New Media (2nd Edition)$37.96$46.80 (3)The Silk Code (Phil D'Amato series Book 1)$6.99 (46)Ads by Amazon 

Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music

Homeland 6.11: Quinn and Dar

A Quinn-centric excellent episode 6.11 of Homeland last night, in which we learn at least two important things about Quinn -

1. He tells Carrie that he always been this way.  He of course was not talking about the deficits from the stroke.  He was talking about the rage inside him, ever ready to boil over against enemies, or even in pursuit of his work.   And even when rage isn't part of it, he's been all too quick to injure and kill when necessary.  He shot Carrie, and killed a boy in South America, all on behalf of missions.   Peter's self-awareness of this dark part of his psyche is an important piece of what's going on, and what' going to happen.

2. Why is someone posting dangerous missives online under Quinn's name?  My guess is the poster is likely Dar or his agent, and the goal is to set Peter up as someone who needs to be terminated, which Dar now will only be too happy to do,

Which brings us to the teaser for next week's episode - it will change "everything".  Peter's death would certainly do that.  It would, in effect, free Carrie in all kinds of ways.  Much as I would hate to see that happen, I'm guessing that's what we'll see next week.

But there's an outside chance it will be someone else who's shot or otherwise blown off the the show. Wouldn't it be nice if that was Dar?   That would also bring in a breath of fresh air, and certainly just about everything Dar has been doing this season makes him an appropriate candidate for justice in the extreme.

But justice has never been what Homeland is necessarily about, so we'll just have to stay tuned and see what happens in next week's finale to this provocatively pertinent season, including crowds shouting the familiar "not my President" to the President-elect last night.

See also Homeland 6.1: Madam President-Elect ... Homeland 6.2: Parallel Program ... Homeland 6.3: Potentials ... Homeland 6.4: "A Man with Painted Hair" ... Homeland 6.5: The Attack on Carrie's Brownstone ... Homeland 6.7: The Arch Villain ... Homeland 6.8: Peter's Problem ... Homeland 6.9: The Tide Begins to Turn ... Homeland 6.11: Fake News!
And see also Homeland 5.1: Moving into the Age of Snowden ... Homeland 5.2: Who Wants to Kill Carrie ... Homeland 5.3: Carrie and Kerry ... Homeland 5.5: All Quinn ... Homeland 5.6: Saul Wises Up ... Homeland 5.7: Tough to Watch ... Homeland 5.9: Finally! ... Homeland 5.10: Homeland and Homeland ... Homeland 5.11: Allison as Primo Villain ... Homeland Season 5 Finale: RIPs
And see also Homeland 4.1-2: Carrie's State of Mind ... Homeland 4.3: Quinn and Carrie ... Homeland 4.4: Carrie's Counterpart ... Homeland 4.5: Righteous Seduction ... Homeland 4.6: The Biggest Reveal ... Homeland 4.7: The Manifestation ... Homeland 4.8: Saving Someone's Life ... Homeland 4.9: Hitchcock Would've Loved It ... Homeland 4.10: The List ... Homeland 4.12: Out of this Together
And see also Homeland 3.1: Sneak Preview Review ... Homeland 3.2: Sneak Preview Review ... Homeland 3.3: Two Prisons ... Homeland 3.4: Twist! ...Homeland 3.6: Further Down the Rabbit Hole ... Homeland 3.7: Revealing What We Already Knew ... Homeland 3.8: Signs of Life ...Homeland 3.9: Perfect Timing ... Homeland 3.10: Someone Has to Die ... Homeland 3.11: The Loyalist ... Homeland Season 3 Finale: Redemption and Betrayal
And see Homeland 2.1-2: Sneak Preview Review ... Homeland 2.3-5: Sneak Preview Review ... Homeland 2.6: What Brody Knows ... Homeland 2.7: Love Me Tinder ... Homeland 2.8: The Personal and the Professional ...Homeland Season 2 Finale: The Shocker and the Reality
And see also  Homeland on Showtime ... Homeland 1.8: Surprises ... Homeland Concludes First Season: Exceptional



Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music

Black Sails: Farewell

Well, I can't say I was overjoyed about the Black Sails finale, and not just because I didn't want to see this vivid, vibrant series end.

I would have liked to see a little more connection between this ending, and what we know of our heroes based on Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island - of which Black Sails was explicitly presented as a prequel.

Black Sails ends with not even a hint of Flint becoming a pirate again.  I have no problem with his giving it up for the man he loves, but I wanted to see at least a hint, a suggestion, of how he got back on the high seas again.

Otherwise, the ending was strong.  Long John being turned away by his love is a good entree to his subsequent life with the skull and crossbones.   Billy Bones surviving was necessary, as he, too, is spoken of by Stevenson.

Rackham was a real person in our history, and he did not have a happy ending.  There was no indication of that in the Black Sails finale, other than a life of piracy cannot have a happy ending, but that was ok.

But back to Flint.  Long John's strategy of giving Flint what he most wanted, so he would give up his quest to change the world didn't work as an ending even if we didn't know what Stevenson had in store for him.  Finding Thomas could well have invigorated Flint, made him even stronger in his resolve, to right what he saw as wrongs in the world.

Still, if the finale was not as good as it could have been, the overall series was memorable and I'd highly recommend it.   May piracy on the seas live forever as a form of fiction in print and on the screen.

See also: Black Sails 4.1: "True Friends and Mortal Enemies" ... Black Sails 4.2: Bones vs. Flint ... Black Sails 4.3: Decisive Victories and Losses - On Both Sides ... Black Sails 4.4: Chess Game ... Black Sails 4.5: Bold Moves ...Black Sails 4.6: Spanish Horsemen with Lances ... Black Sails 4.7: Jack Rackham and Fake News ... Black Sails 4.9: Flynt vs. Long John ... Black Sails: Penultimate

See also Black Sails 3.1: Restored ... Black Sails 3.2: Flint vs. Sea ... Black Sails 3.3: Gone Fishin' ... Black Sails 3.4: Mr. Scott's People ... Black Sails 3.5: Alliance ... Black Sails 3.6: The Duel ... Black Sails 3.7: The Blackening of John Silver ... Black Sails 3.8: Whether Vane? ... Black Sails 3.10: Wither Vane ... Black Sails Season 3 Finale: Throckmorton

And see also Black Sails 2.1: Good Combo, Back Story, New Blood ... Black Sails 2.2: A Fine Lesson in Captaining ... Black Sails 2.3: "I Angered Charles Vane" ... Black Sails 2.4: "Fire!" ... Black Sails 2.5: Twist! ... Black Sails 2.6: Weighty Alternatives, and the Medium is the Message on the High Seas ...Black Sails 2.7: The Governor's Daughter and the Gold ... Black Sails 2.9: The Unlikely Hero ... Black Sails Season 2 Finale: Satisfying Literate and Vulgar

And see also Black Sails: Literate and Raunchy Piracy ... Black Sails 1.3: John Milton and Marcus Aurelius ... Black Sails 1.4: The Masts of Wall Street ...Black Sails 1.6: Rising Up ... Black Sails 1.7: Fictions and History ... Black Sails 1.8: Money

 

pirates of the mind in The Plot to Save Socrates 

Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music

Big Little Lies: Elvis and Answers

A superb conclusion to the Big Little Lies - a superb conclusion to one of the best series ever on any television.   Although there's always room for a second season, and I hope it happens, this short season was about as good as it gets.

First, let me say that the Elvis renditions on trivia night were themselves worth the price of admission.  Zoe Kravitz's "Don't" - one of my favorite Elvis songs anyway - was nonpareil.  And Adam Scott's performance of "The Wonder of You" was nothing to sneer at, either.  (Though my wife tells me he was lip-synching - well, kudos to the singer and the lip synching.)

But back to the plot: the ending was just right for this kind of whodunnit, because the "culprit" was the person who we would have least reason to even remotely suspect.  Bonnie (played by Zoe Kravitz) had no reason to kill anybody.

Until she saw what Perry was doing.  And, even then, she didn't intend to kill him.

But, boy, did he deserve to die. (Which is why I put "culprit" in quotes.)  Not only because of what he had been doing to Celeste, but because he is revealed as Jane's rapist.  That was a wild twist, and maybe the one weakness in the plot - wouldn't she have recognized Perry?  However much he changed, his eyes, his voice would have been the same.  But we do get the additional irony here that not only was Perry to father of violent Max, but of sweet Ziggy.

I'll conclude with saying I honestly don't know who should get the Emmy for best lead actress, Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman were both so extraordinary in different ways.  Reese Witherspoon walked the line between being a bitch and a caring woman just perfectly.  And Nicole Kidman as an abused woman, trying to hold together her marriage, was indelible.  As for acting, hats of to Alexander Skarsgard for an unforgettable performance as the despicable Perry.

I'd watch another season in a heartbeat.  But this short season has already made television history.


See also Big Little Lies: Big Good, Truly ... Big Little Lies 1.5: Multivalent Whudunnit

Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music