Paul Levinson's Blog: Levinson at Large, page 87
October 29, 2021
Podcast Review of Foundation 1.7
Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 202, in which I review the seventh episode of Foundation, just up today on Apple TV+
earlier podcasts about Foundation: October 22, 2021 Review of Foundation 1.6 ... October 15, 2021: Review of Foundation 1.5 ... October 8, 2021: Review of Foundation 1.4 ... October 1, 2021: Review of Foundation 1.3 ... September 24, 2021: Review of Foundation 1.1-2 .... July 17, 2021: Thinking about Asimov's Foundation Series on AppleTV+ ... March 12, 2009: Asimov's Foundation and Herbert's Dune Trilogies as Sources of Philosophy written blog post review of Foundation 1.7 postcard from Isaac Asimov to me in 1979 about the Foundation trilogyAnd, here is where you can listen to Robin Shannon's show on WFUV Radio, Fordham Conversations, and some of the places you can listen to Laron Cue's (aka QRock 639's) remix of my song "Cloudy Sunday" (lyrics by Paul Levinson, music by Linda Kaplan): Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music
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October 28, 2021
Foundation 1.7: Alternate History/Future
I'm going to tell you two things about episode 1.7 of Foundation (which I just saw, riveted to the screen of Apple TV+), before I warn you about the bombshell spoilers that will follow in this review:
1. This episode 1.7 is by far the best episode in the television series, so far, and the first to truly live up to and in some ways exceed where the story was at this point in Isaac Asimov's writing. I now understand why Isaac's daughter Robin is such a strong supporter of this television series.
2. Yes, the TV narrative differs from the Astounding stories that Asimov wrote in the 1940s, and the way he put them together in the original Foundation trilogy in the early 1950s, and the sequels and prequels he wrote and had published in the 1980s. Those written works start in a place not too far from the beginning of the TV series, but the TV series proceeds to a place very different from but still related to the written stories and novels, and this different TV path is on the deepest level true to its source. The TV series is, in effect, an alternate history/future of what Asimov wrote.
[Here's the spoiler warning ....]
3. We learn tonight (in episode 1.7) why Hari was killed, and what he was doing years later on that ship with Gaal. Most devotees of the Foundation saga have already guessed why Hari was killed -- it was part of his plan, in effect an early expression of the Seldon Plan. In episode 1.7 we find out that although Hari's physical body (including his brain) died in that stabbing, his mind/psyche/soul (take your pick or go with all three) was transferred/uploaded/downloaded (same advice: take your pick or take all three) to that ship on which Gaal discovers Hari. So, Hari's mentality lives. In a hologram or whatever exactly that was. This likely/no doubt will be the expression of the hologram we've been awaiting from Asimov's writings.
4. The scene with Brother Dawn was even better than last week's, which was excellent. The clone story continues to be both a keen piece of science fiction on its own, and one which fits in well with the alternate Foundation story that is the television series. We learn Dawn is more than a little different from Day and Dusk. With his many mutations/differences, he in effect is really their brother, not their clone. This has to have importance in the future of the TV story.
5. Demerzel had her best night, too -- in particular, her conversation with Day in which she explains why she bowed, apparently a profound violation of her programming. In a way, Demerzel may be the equivalent of Dawn -- for some reason, behaving not the way she is supposed to to behave.
6. The reasons for Dawn's and Demerzel's divergences will be crucial parts of the ongoing story, either this season or next.
7. And in some respects, the most momentous for last: What Gaal realizes about herself at the end of the episode, that she can feel the future ahead of her? Welcome to the Second Foundation. She's Preem Palver. I expect will see her next season vis-a-vis ... the Mule.
And watch here for my podcast review of Foundation 1.7, up here later today or tomorrow, depending upon how you look at it.
See also Foundation 1.1-2: Mathematician, Man of the People, and Cleon's Clones ... Foundation 1.3: Clonal Science Fiction, Hari Seldon as V. I. Lenin ... Foundation 1.4: Slow Hand, Long Half-Life, Flipped Coin ... Foundation 1.5: What We Learned in that Final Scene ... Foundation 1.6: Folded Variations
CSI: Vegas 1.4: Difficult Progress
A fun CSI: Vegas 1.4 last night, as Sara and Gil make progress in their effort to exonerate David Hodges, accused of forging of evidence in some 8,000 cases, which if true would make the continuance of CSI in anything resembling its current form plainly impossible.
Their prime adversary is Nora Cross, a tough, articulate, intelligent Internal Affairs Detective. She's apparently totally convinced that Hodges forged the evidence, and happy to pressure Gil, Sara, and current CSI head Maxine Roby to get their support. Which doesn't quite make sense because surely Cross realizes that Hodges being guilty could bury CSI, so why would its prime movers Sara and Gil possibly join her in her quest to get Hodges? Even Roby, who doesn't know Hodges and wasn't there when Hodges allegedly did his nefarious work, is doing what she can to help in his defense and find the person who framed him.
Gil takes a big step forward identifying that framer. He does that by lying to Nora, and acceding to her request that she join in the persecution/prosecution of Hodges, which raises another question: why does she believe him? She clearly knows how much damage it would to the history and future of CSI were Hodges guilty.
The truth is that that kind of logic and reasoning was never CSI's strong suit. Evidence -- Gil's Holy Grail -- was and continues to be the very basis of CSI. So the good news, the takeaway of episode 1.4, is that Gil on the basis of the files he gets from Nora by lying to her gives Gil what he need to identify the guy who framed Hodges.
That's real progress. And even if the logic in getting there is little murky, seeing it unfold is still fun.
See also: CSI: Vegas 1.1: CSI on Trial ... CSI: Vegas 1.2: My Half-Joking Suggestion for the Villain ... CSI: Vegas 3.3: Three Especially Enjoyable Facets
October 26, 2021
La Brea 1.5: The Letter and The Resemblance
The letter -- from Eve -- traveled from the past to the present the hard way, second by second, in a bottle, which could also be considered the natural way. And it (of course) arrived at a most propitious time: the tear in the sky (as in rip, but it's emotionally also a teardrop from an eye) is closing. Dr. Rebecca Aldridge carefully explains to Gavin that this could be his last chance to rescue his family from the past.
By the way, speaking of Rebecca, I noticed a resemblance between her, and the woman leading the band of people (presumably at least some are from our present) who confront our heroes back there/then. Her name is Paara. Their pictures are on either side of this paragraph. The are played by two different actors (Rebecca by Ming-Zhu Hii, Paara by Tonantzin Carmelo), and clearly are not the same person. But they resemble each other. Coincidence, or are they related?
La Brea continues to be an intriguing series. At times it almost seems soap opera-ish. It has its share of trite stories, like the drug dealer waving his gun around in the past. But the series has a profundity glinting below the surface, and I'm enjoying the ride.
See also La Brea 1.1: Pros and Cons of Falling Into the Past ... La Brea 1.2: Deepening Horizons ... La Brea 1.3: Descending Into the Maelstrom ... La Brea 1.4: Expanding Horizons
Podcast Review of Invasion 1.1-3
Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 201, in which I review the first three episodes of Invasion on Apple TV+. Since this is the 201st podcast episode, it also includes congratulations from Cora Buhlert and some other surprises! Written blog post review of Invasion 1.3-3 is here.
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October 25, 2021
Baptiste 2.2: The Odd Fellow
My favorite moment in Baptiste 2.2 on PBS last night was when Emma says he's "an odd fellow". Which Baptiste certainly is. But he's an odd fellow in large part because he's a genius. An Emma's a little odd herself. After what she's been through, the grievous losses she's suffered, few people could be as strong and determined as she apparently is.
As to what exactly is going on in the narrative, that's still somewhat unclear. And the jumping back and forth between the present with a shaggy long-haired Baptiste and Emma in a wheelchair and 14 months earlier when Emma was walking and Baptiste a little better kempt doesn't exactly help. We're obliged to put together two parts of a puzzle which not only don't quite fit, but are rather blurry, out of focus, on their own. But that's part of the challenge and appeal of this series.
We are beginning to see some of the pieces a little more clearly, like Baptiste's terrible discovery of his murdered daughter. This makes him a colleague in heart-piercing grief with Emma. And one of the most interesting parts of this story is how the two keep switching places of being all but overwhelmed by sorrow and exhorting the other to snap out of it and get to work on the problem at hand.
That's the life and death problem of saving Emma's surviving son. Baptiste doesn't always succeed -- he's an odd genius, but only human -- but I'm betting that he does succeed in this wrenching case. The question then is what will happen to his fractured family? Will he get back with his wife? Will he find some peace?
I'm hoping it's yes to the first, but not likely for the second. Odd fellows rarely do.
See also Baptiste 2.1: Souls on Edge ... Baptiste 1: Logic, Passion, and Unflappability ... The Missing 1: Worth Finding and The Missing 2: Unforgettable
October 24, 2021
Curb Your Enthusiasm 11.1: Not Quite Tsuris
Curb Your Enthusiasm was back on HBO for the debut of its 11th season tonight, pretty to very funny, not the funniest of this show which can have you laughing out loud for most of its 30 minutes, but enjoyable and fun to see nonetheless.
As usual, Larry gets caught up in a variety of situations in which his grievances are justified but in apparent defiance or ignorance of social norms, for which Larry gets grief himself, but stubbornly doesn't relent. Someone with declining mental abilities owes Larry $6000, overdue six months, and Larry thinks it's time to call in the debt. Everyone else including slight acquaintances and especially Suzie think Larry is horribly wrong to ask the guy for the money.
Speaking of Suzie, she obviously plops down on a white couch, causing Larry to spill his red wine all over it, and no one wants to support Larry's insistence that it wasn't his fault -- including Jeff, who agrees with Larry privately but won't go against his wife. Actually that was very funny, I'm beginning to think maybe I was too harsh in the first paragraph. I hope Larry gets this far if he reads this review.
The two funniest interludes in the episode were (1) Larry being forced to cast a young woman clearly not right for the part of Marsha in the "Young Larry David" sitcom Larry and Jeff manage to sell to Netflix. He did this because the young woman's uncle drowned in Larry's pool, unprotected by the fence called for in the local ordinances. (My guess is she'll turn out to do a great job in the part.) And (2) the pre-funeral, or whatever it's called that Albert Brooks puts together for himself, and gets Larry embroiled in. Jon Hamm shows up and wants to express that's he's "bashert" about the faux death, or maybe express his condolences that Brooks' family and friends have "bashert", and Larry correctly tells him that "bashert" is not the right word for that, because it means "fate". Hamm asks what is the right word, then. And Larry says "tsuris".
Well, not quite. "Tsuris" means "trouble" or "troubles" in Yiddish, but I'd say it's too weak a word to pertain to the death of a loved one. What would be the right word then? I don't know.
But, ok, I was wrong about the episode not being hilarious enough -- in the immortal words of Jerry Orbach's character in Dirty Dancing, "when I'm wrong, I say I'm wrong" -- and it's bashert that I'll be back with at least one or two more reviews of this season's episodes.
See also: Curb Your Enthusiasm 10.1: Reunited! ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 10.3: Garbage Cans and Apples ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 10.8: Meets Mad Men ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 10.9: Science Fiction ... Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 10 Finale: Unjust Desserts
See also: Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.1: Hilarious! ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.2: Wife Swapping ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.3: Benefits ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.4: "Hold You in his Armchair" ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.5: Schmata At Large ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.8: The Unexpected Advocate ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.9: Salmon Discretion ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.10: Outfit Tracker
Hightown 2.2: Some of My Favorite Things
A top-notch second episode of the second season Hightown tonight. Among my favorite parts were:
The body in Nickerson State Park. We have a house not too far from there. Oi!Osito reading Lean In. Not quite as good Stringer Bell and The Wealth of Nations in The Wire, but definitely headed in the right direction.Jackie's in bed with Leslie, after the latter says she likes "dick". Another win for Jackie's powers of seduction. Plus, she's coming up in the world of whom she seduces.Ray waking up in a car in the street by Renee's (and Frankie's) house. A daring albeit black-out drunk move.Now on that issue, it's still not clear that Renee's baby is Ray's. But I'd say Hightown is spending far too much time on the pregnancy if Ray's not the father. Which would be a great development for the story, if not precisely for the characters. If this series or even season had a happy ending, Frankie would end up in prison for life, his cousin would be gone, and Ray and Renee (hey, their names rhyme) could live happily ever after.But happy endings are hard to come these days in television series in which most of the characters are drug dependent, burned out, heartbroken, or at least two out of three. Hightown at least does this with the ever rolling sea in the background, or sometimes in the center of the action, as it is when Frankie and cousin Jorge dispose of the guy who brought the heat down on them by selling the deadly drugs to those college kids. How long will it take before Frankie has to dispose of Jorge? He'd definitely do that to his cousin, if the choice was Jorge or Renee -- unless Renee and Ray get together, and Frankie finds out.
See you next week.
See also Hightown 2.1: Switching Ups and Downs
And see also Hightown 1.1: Top-Notch Saltwater and Characters ... Hightown 1.2: Sludge and Sun ... Hightown 1.3: Dirty Laundry ... Hightown 1.4: Banging on the Hood ... Hightown 1.5-6: Turning Point and the Real True ... Hightown 1.7: Two Things ... Hightown 1.8: Up and Down and Up
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American Rust 1.7: The Dead Can't Buy Drugs
A disturbing American Rust 1.7 -- which means, good, as far as narrative goes -- with two somewhat bright spots.
Let's start with the disturbing. Grace tells Del, emotionally wounded and under soul-crushing pressure, that the two of them are a team, and they'll look out for each other. She tells him this twice, in two different scenes. The first time I thought, yes, this is a redeeming scene. It's good to see Grace and Del together. The second time, I don't know, something about the way Grace said it made me think maybe she's just using Del, for whatever help he can give to Billy. I hope I'm wrong, but if this is true, Del's in for more heartbreak before this story ends,
Billy certainly needs help. I'm assuming he won't be brought up on charges of assault for being thrust into that fight by the inmates, betting on Billy as the victor. But now he's failed again to keep out of a fight, to control his punches. And this time it wasn't the slightest his fault.
So what are the bright spots? It was good to see that security guard show some decency to Isaac. Of all the beleaguered people in this story of America, Isaac is the most pathetic. But his sister, Lee, finally moves up to doing something helpful. It was good to see her pressure Rachel to let Lee help Rachel in Billy's defense. The beating scene is just more dire evidence that he needs help. Lee is right that Billy will do almost anything Lee wants. Would that include making Isaac a target of the law? Probably not. But maybe, before then, Del will be able to get his hands on Jesus the drug dealer. (Again, I don't get why they're selling drugs that kill their best customers? To get them addicted, I get. But dead people can't buy drugs.)
Only two more episodes of this powerful series. I'll be watching both of them, and I'll back here with a review next week, and another the week after.
See also American Rust 1.1-2: Pennsylvania Noir ... American Rust 1.3: Highs and Lows of Life at the Same Time ... American Rust 1.4-5: Tightening Noose and Fraying Relationships ... American 1.6: The Debts
October 23, 2021
Invasion 1.1-3: Compelling Contender
This has been a great few days for science fiction on the screen. An excellent episode of Foundation, an outstanding first half of a new Dune movie and ... I decided to see if I could get a trifecta by watching a brand new science fiction series. Like Foundation, Invasion is on AppleTV+, which put up the first three episodes of this ambitious series on Friday. It had a lot to contend with, debuting just as Foundation was getting into really high gear, when Dune was making a justified name for itself the moment it opened. And ... Invasion succeeded.
Let me say first, though, that I thought the very first episode, in which the largest part was a nealy standalone story of an aging, retiring sheriff in Oklahoma, was by far the weakest of the three opening episodes. I mean, Sam Neill is a fine actor who was fine in the role, but the story had only the slightest to do with the interstellar invasion of Earth which is the heart of this series. Fortunately, the second and third episodes were out-of-the-ballpark powerful and enthralling.
The stories that unfold in this slightly into the future tableau include a Japanese shuttle to a space station, attached and destroyed by the invaders, leaving behind a lover in Tokyo, who works for the Japanese equivalent of NASA and is determined to find out what happened; a school bus of British kids knocked off the road by an interstellar attack, which results in a Lord of the Flies scenario; and an apparently lone survivor of an American unit in Afghanistan presumably all killed by the invaders. (Yeah, this part of the narrative obviously was conceived and filmed before the precipitous U. S. withdrawal in our reality -- we just have to assume watching Invasion that the U. S. went back in there for some reason. This kind of thing reminds me of science fiction stories in the 1980s talking about a Soviet Union in the 21st century -- one of the hazards of writing fiction about the future.)
But Invasion is doing just fine after three episode, even with this Afghanistan anachronism. There's a 1950s War of the Worlds feel to it, except the personal lives of the characters are fleshed out better than in those old movies. The family that figures in the New York part of the story features an Asian Indian couple with two kids and a Tesla, but their marriage is falling apart even before the buildings, because the husband has fallen madly in love with another woman (a blonde, as his wife points out). Indeed, all the backstories are notable and interesting, with the exception of the Oklahoma sheriff, but we haven't seen him since the first episode, and, who knows, something significant could yet happen out there.
The second half of Dune won't likely be seen for a year. But now there's some science fiction on television that I'll be watching every weekend as soon as I finish my sojourn into the fate of the Galactic Empire in Foundation.
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