George channels Murderbot
George has always longed for a role model—specifically a male or male-adjacent role model (the only downside of having two moms). Charlie, while fascinated with George’s obsession, doesn’t feel the same need, though he does occasionally take it upon himself to vet the candidates, beginning when they were just kittens.
CHARLIE: These guys, George? Seriously? They do have whiskers, but they’re very old, and there’s not a tail between them. Which is a good thing because they’d wag them all the time in enthusiasm whenever they dig up bones. Which they do a lot. Just like dogs, really.
GEORGE: [sigh]
By the time he’s 8 or 9 months old, George is beginning to cast his net wider. Maybe he’s really an alien adopted into an Earth family?
At this point Charlie got worried enough about his brother vanishing in a beam of light to visit shrieking cephalopods that he had a serious chat and explained that maybe a predator needed a more suitable mentor, perhaps one closer to home, literally and figuratively. And, lo! George discovered the Lion King—specifically, the lion king’s dad. But of course the dad goes away.
“Yes, yes, share your widom with me…”
“Farewell, O my father!”At this point George was so sad that Charlie once more took it upon himself to filter the candidates.
CHARLIE: No, George. Just no. Lucifer is *not* appropriate. For you.
GEORGE: But he’s so suave!
CHARLIE: He’s the devil, George! The actual devil! Besides, he’s *my* role model.
GEORGE: [sigh]
After that, George had a brief moment while watching Firefly (CHARLIE: Forget it, George. He dies…)1
And then he just…gave up for a while. Even after we finally replaced our ancient TV—one of the tiny and very early Aquos models—with something from this decade, he just wasn’t interested in anything except bathing mindlessly in Apple’s soothing screen savers.
Lately, though, he’s been paying attention to programming once again. Lately, too, I’ve been enjoying watching Murderbot.2 (Coincidence? I think not…)3 And George is happy. He feels he has perhaps at long last found a role model. After all, he, too, has somewhat different physiognomy to most apparent males of his phenotype; he, too, does not really understand humour but can still occasionally make people laugh; he, too, is a very efficient killer who enjoys premium quality entertainments; and he, too, often feels the need to check the perimeter.
George channels MurderbotI imagine we’ll be watching a lot of Murderbot. At least I hope so. The alternative is too terrible to contemplate.
Oh noes, don’t say it’s cancelled…“…for no reason, George! None!” Except Joss Whedon never met a happy couple he didn’t want to destroy. 
︎And I’m delighted it’s been renewed for a second season. ︎No, Spock never floated George’s boat—the whales on the other hand… ︎
