Rob’s Comments (group member since Jul 06, 2012)

Rob’s comments from the The Sword and Laser group.

But anyways. I really liked season 1 and hope they get to make more. I thought the production quality was very good and they fixed a lot of the things I didn't like about Shadow and Bone

I will say none of the story in season 1 with Kez and crew is from the books, but you will have a better idea who the characters are.

Technically Six of Crows is 2 years after Ruin and Rising.

If you think about the character ages it doesn't make much sense. Kaz should be like 13 in season 1. I think they aged everyone up for the show. Or at least Kaz's crew.

I actually really love Kevin Free as Murderbot. But I started with audio. I can imagine if you start with the text version and imagine your own voice most narrators are not going to live up to your head cannon version.

At least that's how I initially felt about James Marsters as Harry Dresden. However he grew on me and now I can't imagine anyone else as Harry.

For my own personal challenges, I'm finished with:

Personal: 11/25 (44% complete)
Sword: 8/5 (160% complete)
Laser: 2/5 (40% complete)

I finished reading 5 fantasy books in April completing my S&L Sword challenge.

That number is pretty misleading. I didn't have much of Small Gods left. I was also mostly through my audio book at the end of March as well. So really it's more like 3 books and the other 2 are kind of shared with March.

I really ended up enjoying Bloodline and tore through that rather quickly. But I haven't started another ebook since that. I'm not sure if/when I will. Nothing is really calling out to me.

For next month I'm expecting to do at least 2 audiobooks, possibly 3 since one of them will be Murderbot which is very short. We'll see if I do any more beyond that.

April Results:

Sword Challenge
Total Participants: 115 (+8)
Total Read: 1,149 (+293)
Average Books Read: 10 (+2)
Total Committed: 3,462 (+152)
Average Books pledged: 30 (-1)


Laser Challenge
Total Participants: 119 (+8)
Total Read: 991 (+270)
Average Books Read: 8 (+1)
Total Committed: 3,202 (+163)
Average Books pledged: 27 (0)

John (Nevets) wrote: "Is this in the right place? You are the boss, but first time I’ve seen it up here."

Haha. Nope. I was wondering where it went..that'll learn me not to make threads before I've had my coffee!

The month has begun. Go forth and discuss!

It's the first of May (NSFW) how are you celebrating this month?

With books I mean, not the other thing..

Dara wrote: "@ Rob - Hi!! I’ve been doing really well. I got a new job that I love about 8 months ago but it zaps my brain so I don’t read like, at all anymore. Also animal crossing ate my life up. I’m trying t..."

Glad you found a job you love, even if it means no more Dara/Dara Quick Burns on the podcast.

I really enjoyed Paper Girls

Welcome (or welcome back?) Chris! Congrats on your retirement.

I liked the final episode. Nothing mind blowing, but an enjoyable time.

I liked Wandavision better overall than this series, but I'm more interested in what comes next for these characters right now.

I'm looking forward to Captain America 4.

There are things in all the Star Wars movies I enjoy, but the original movie and Empire will always remain my favorite.

I own 4-6 on DVD (has unenhanced original version) and VHS (special editions). I typically watch the special editions just for the improved visuals though.

I still think episode 1 is my least favorite followed by 2 and 3. 9 is close on it's heels. The only reason 9 isn't lower (and that I own it) is I enjoy Rey. I wish she got a better ending.

I'm also not an unabashed Abrams hater like Trike is. I've enjoyed a lot of his stuff, but I didn't find his take on Star Wars very exciting. My main issue is he ruined the most interesting part of episode 8 (that anyone can be a Jedi and bloodlines don't matter), or at least downplayed it when it would have been a lot more interesting to lean into it.

I generally don't care about the stand alones. Again they have some interesting parts or characters, but I don't feel the need to rewatch them.

My actual favorite character in Star Wars is Ahsoka Tano. I couldn't stand her and I was pretty meh on the Clone Wars series when I first started watching it, but man does it get good. I think that's why I enjoy her so much. The character growth from obnoxious little kid into badass ronin is fantastic.

I would have loved to have seen what the sequel trilogy could have been with Dave Fiolini playing the part of Kevin Feige.

I'm cautiously optimistic about the upcoming Ashoka series. I think I'd probably have preferred an animated series instead, but I'm withholding judgement until I see what we get. Mostly I just miss Ashley Eckstein. I think she's more than attractive enough to have appeared on screen and can obviously act the part. She's just not a bit name like Rosario Dawson is.

Our book pick for next month is: Network Effect by Martha Wells.

Our guest host will be: Robb Dunewood form the SMR Podcast.

I liked this week's episode, but a bit slower after last week. I'm interested in what they'll do with (view spoiler)[JLD's character. I guess she's associated with Hyrdra? (hide spoiler)]

Tassie Dave wrote: "Outside the US, Disney+ isn't PG-13 any more.

There are many MA15+ & R18+ Movies and TV shows."

Yeah, in the US (and probably Canada?) anything over pg-13 is on Hulu instead if anywhere.

Given Disney's general (view spoiler)[PG-13 stance, I was a bit surprised they did the Bloody shield. Easily PG-13, but still a bit more graphic than normal for them, even if they didn't show how it got bloodied. It really drove the brutality of it home and re-enforces how he doesn't deserve the shield in the first place. (hide spoiler)]

But yeah, I agree Wyatt Russell is doing a good job.

and of course one can't discuss gazebos without bringing up this story: http://www.experience-point.com/dnd-b...

Ruth wrote: "Rob wrote: "The gazebo thing in the audiobook bothered me too. lol."

I don’t remember noticing it... I probably just assumed that was how all Americans say that word!"

Nope. This probably won't come across that well but I'm used to saying Gah-zee-bow.

I think the narrator was saying something like Gah-zay-bow.

It's that middle Z sound that was messing with me.

Orphan Black: The Next Chapter is apparently free now (ad-supported).

https://www.tor.com/2021/04/08/orphan...

I bought it back when it came out and enjoyed it. It's especially great since it's narrated by Tatiana Maslany