Paul Levinson's Blog: Levinson at Large, page 77

Station Eleven 1.4-5: Shakespearean Prophet

Well, if you thought Station Eleven wasn't dead serious, you'll give up any hope that it wasn't after you've seen episodes 1.4-5, up on HBO Max today. No, only kidding, of course. This is a series about the near extinction of the human species, so how could it not be deadly serious? But I wasn't really kidding, if that makes any sense. As serious and to-the-core frightening as this narrative was from the get-go, it's even more, a lot more so, after these two new episodes.

Before getting into why, let me say that the cinematography and music in this television series is an Impressionistic triumph. The images range from the watercolor fields of Monet to the rage and confusion in oil of Van Gogh (nice phrase, right?). And the music is some kind of riff on Debussy, though as far as I know none of the music in this TV series that is more like a movie was actually written by him.

[Ok, time for just one big spoiler ... ]

I guessed pretty early on in 1.5 that Tyler was, or would grow up to be, David aka the Prophet. And in 1.4, we learn why Kirsten tried to kill him, and why he deserved to be. I said in a review of the Succession season 3 finale that that ultra-contemporary series was Shakespearean. Not to throw too many compliment bouquets, but the post-ultra-contemporary Station Eleven is Shakespearean, too. It shouts that out literally from the stage at the beginning of the very first episode with King Lear. And it continues that, with actors who speak as if they are on stage not screens, in situations which are exquisite human tragedies.

Tyler's voyage in that airport was a sight to behold. Although Station Eleven had this quality all along, that airport story for the first time tipped the balance from science fiction to horror, though the action was psychological, not blood and gore. I'll also say, as the series completes its midpoint, though I know already that I'm going to think the series will conclude its first season far too soon. And that's because it's taking so much time to tell its story, and I'm luxuriously bathing in, with a wary eye, every minute.

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Published on December 23, 2021 18:58

Meet the Alternative History: What If Bill Clinton Had Resigned in 1998?: Political Analysis Meets Alternate History

I don't usually review podcasts here. But given my love of alternate history -- as reader, viewer, interviewer, reviewer, and writer -- how could I resist. I saw Jeff Greenfield this afternoon on Meet the Press with Chuck Todd, talking about the special four-episode Meet the Alternative History series on Chuck's Toddcast, and I just finished listening to the first episode.

First, a word about how I've come to be such a devotee of alternate history. As an author of time travel science fiction, it's hard not to encounter alternate history, since any trip to the past is always on the verge of engendering an alternate history (see this Zoom lecture I gave last week to a Science Fiction and Philosophy course in Germany for more on that). Sometimes the consequences can be major (you stop the assassination of JFK), sometimes they're just a tasty flourish (I had Joe Biden elected President in 2008, in my 2014 novel, Chronica). As a reader and viewer, Philip K. Dick's 1962 The Man in the High Castle (in which the Axis powers won World War II) is among my all-time favorite novels, and the Amazon Prime series adaptation of the novel among my all time favorite television series (see my in-depth interview with Rufus Sewell, who starred in the series). So alternate history fiction is as familiar and welcome to me as a walk on the beach on Cape Cod Bay, or a cool sunny day anywhere.

To be clear, the conversation between Todd and Greenfield in this podcast episode is not alternate history per se -- or not "alternative" history, an alternate name for alternate history which I don't like as a name as much as alternate history. The conversation is rather, just that, a conversation. But it's a very informed conversation, in which Todd and Greenfield consider all the political ingredients and possible political consequences of Bill Clinton resigning in 1998. Al Gore becomes President. Would Joe Lieberman have been his running mate in 2000? Probably not. It could have been Dianne Feinstein. And what about 2004? Would Gore have run again? Where would Barack Obama have been in 2008, with Gore finishing his second term as President (assuming he ran and won)? What about Hillary Clinton? What about Trump?

If politics and alternate history are your cup of tea, this little podcast will be delicious listening. Not that I agreed with everything Todd and Greenfield said. Both loved only the first season of The Man in the High Castle on Amazon Prime, whereas I loved it all except the ending of the final season (see, again my interview with Rufus Sewell). But, though Greenfield has written some alternate history (which I'm now more likely to read), the alternate history of science fiction is neither his nor Todd's speciality. Politics is. And the result is a great conversation, bubbling with effervescent scenarios, which I look forward to hearing more of, with additional guests, in the next three episodes.

Listen to Meet the Alternative History on Spotify or Goodpods.

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Published on December 23, 2021 13:04

Podcast Review of The Matrix Resurrections

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 228, in which I review The Matrix Resurrections.

Written blog post review of The Matrix Resurrections.

Check out this episode!

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Published on December 22, 2021 19:26

The Matrix Resurrections: Great Mix of Deep Philosophy and Fast-Moving Action

I just saw The Matrix Resurrections on HBO Max. It may be the best Matrix since The Matrix -- that is, the first movie, so I'm saying Resurrections may be better than the two earlier sequels, certainly better than the third in the original trilogy, Revolutions.

One of the reasons I'm thinking this is how well the meta angle is handled in Resurrections. We find Neo working as a programmer, whose great accomplishment was writing a computer game called "The Matrix". He's sucked into a journey in which reality vs. fiction as an explanation for what is happening vie for our attention at every incandescent turn, and there are many of them.

[Note: For once, or as a rarity, there WON'T be any big spoilers ahead ... ]

Let's talk about the acting. Keanu Reeves as Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity were excellent. I was prepared to be annoyed at Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Morpheus and Jonathan Groff as Smith, because their original incarnations by Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving were so brilliantly, searingly memorable. But the new actors for these crucial characters were quite good. In the first three movies, Smith was for most part the more keenly acted and therefore more unforgettable character, and even though Groff is not quite as knife's edge as Weaving, his Smith will be somewhat memorable, too.

Among the new characters, by far my favorite was Neil Patrick Harris as The Analyst -- a big step up from Doogie Howser, MD but in a related medical profession -- and I very much liked the unpredictable villainous kindred relationship between him and Smith. Both had a fair share of bon mots, and if I had to choose the most profound it would be The Analyst's observation that feelings make fictions real. In addition to these lines that could have come from Plato -- who notoriously distrusted both feelings and art (see his Republic) -- we also get some good ultra-contemporary commentary from some of the characters. I guess my favorite would be the Merovingian's, a returning character, who lashes out at both Facebook and Wikipedia in a tense, verge of bursting into action scene. It's probably worth noting that Facebook didn't exist when we last saw Merv in Revolutions in 2003, and Wikipedia was just a tiny three years old, so his denunciation of these two social media giants is understandable, if not fair to Wikipedia, which has done far more good and much less damage than Facebook.

Without telling you anything more about the plot, I'll say it's plausible, exciting, and works well with its three predecessors. The action and special effects were outstanding, as always, and the characters' awareness of the deep philosophic issues that underlie their exploits endows this movie with a refreshing intellectual heft. I'd say The Matrix Resurrections is a triumph of a reboot, and one of the best now around in the burgeoning genre.

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Published on December 22, 2021 14:22

Time Travel: Reading, Watching, Writing It

The complete lecture (with captions) I gave via Zoom to Michael Waltermathe and Christian Weidermann's Science Fiction and Philosophy class at Ruhr-University Bochum in Germany 16 December 2021.

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Published on December 21, 2021 19:58

Interview in Chinese Journal

Honored to have this interview with me (by Liangyi) just published in China (cover of journal and 1st page of interview in photos) -- interview about my media theory, science fiction, and music.

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Published on December 21, 2021 10:21

Hightown 2.9: Heroes and More Seasons

A classic next-to-last episode 2.9 of the season tonight of Hightown on Starz, which, if it follows the lead of much current television, may well be better than the season finale in two weeks.

[Spoilers follow ... ]

Hey, the episode had a happy ending: Ray and Renee in each others' arms. In addition: Jackie's hunches and stick-to-it-iveness finally paid off, and even impressed Leslie. And just for good measure, Alan was happy, too.

But that expression on Frankie's face as he saw Renee and Ray hugging shows the two are not out of the woods, or home free, or pick your cliche, just yet. Frankie is a highly intelligent, resourceful bad guy. He'll now do anything in his power to kill Renee and Ray.

How much will he be able to do behind bars? Well, if last season was any indication, he can do plenty. He can call the shots, hire hitmen, the whole enchilada. Of course, he won't have Osito to help him. Osito will likely be out of prison, soon. He may well leave the life of crime to be with his physical therapist. If he stays in crime, it certainly won't be as Frankie's lackey.

The finale should tell us some of this. It's doubtful Ray will get everything he wants -- back with the police, living happily ever after with Renee and Frankie & Renee's son. But I hope he gets at some of this -- with any luck he'll be with Renee when she has his baby,.

But that's getting pretty far ahead of the story, and may await season three. Yeah, no formal announcement has been made, but given the power of season two, and it's inevitably unfinished story. I'd say a third season of Hightown is a likely certainty (how's that for an oxymoronic phrase). In the meantime, I'll see you here with a review after the season two finale.

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Published on December 19, 2021 18:52

Dexter: New Blood 1.7: Dexter vs. Kurt

The big question for Dexter in Dexter: New Blood 1.7 was whether Angela and the police would arrest and convict Kurt or would he, in Dexter's inimitable inner voice, end up on Dexter's "killing table".

[Spoilers ahead ... ]

But the episode ends with Dexter being kidnapped by one of Kurt's tools. The significance of this is what has been clear all along: Kurt is a capable opponent of Dexter. He's unflappable under all kinds of questioning. He's fast on his feet, quick to come up with a plausible and savvy explanation for his DNA on the bit of skin on Iris's tooth. Kurt says it's his father's, whose DNA of course would be similar but not identical to Kurt's, but in a deteriorated sample which could lose those differences, or make them unclear, with the result that Kurt could not be successfully prosecuted.

So Dexter has no choice but to go after Kurt, and get Kurt on that killing table, but it won't be easy. Not only is Kurt cunning, but Dexter has to get Kurt on the table under Angela's nose. And though she and Dexter drew closer in this episode, no small feat given that she had discovered Dexter's true identity, Molly who has turned out to be pretty sharp is now getting Angela suspicious of Dexter maybe doing more than just taking on a new identity.

Meanwhile, Dexter has something of a breakthrough with Harrison, actually a big breakthrough in realizing he has to tell Harrison about the serial killings Dexter did in Miami, but it's impossible to know how that will work out. It conceivably could strengthen Harrison's impulse to violence, which is precisely what Dexter doesn't want for his son.

With just three episodes left of this outstanding rebooted series, here's a prediction: Harrison's predilection to cause people bodily will help Dexter, maybe even save his life, in Dexter's battle with Kurt.

See you back here next week.