pensman

Glad the show is back, but this is more of a recap than anything. The brief scenes with Ford and Mirren remind us why they are the protagonists. We are drawn to them immediately, just as we are repulsed by Dalton and Flynn.

There is a brief scene with Sheriff McDowell (Robert Patrick) and Father Renaud (Sebastian Roche) to remind us of the mindless cruelty used in dealing with Native Americans. And Spenser Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) is making his way home working on a cargo ship, while his pregnant wife is trying to leave England and travel to America.

If these episodes keep moving at the current glacial speed, we likely won't see the families reunited until the last episode. What we all want is the final showdown between Jacob Dutton and Donald Whitfield. If viewers don't see the possibility of that then there is chance viewership will drop off. Two years is a long time to wait between seasons, and I for one want to see action.

I don't know anything about the source material for this series other than it began as a manga series, then had a run as a "cartoon" TV show, followed by a live-action movie, and now a live action TV serialization. The Golden Kamuy is said to be an epic story of survival, death, betrayal, madness, redemption, family, love, and honor. Maybe it is.

I found the movie and series on Netflix and I was sucked in as each episode of the series became more outrageous. No doubt if I knew the context, I would better recognize the allusions and actions being made fun of. For example, at the beginning of series 1, episode7, Fake, there appears a somewhat blasphemous visual of "The Last Supper." So, if the writer, illustrator, director will take a swipe at Western culture, then the Japanese culture can't be sacrosanct.

There is a plot that can be followed, and interesting characters and some laughable bathroom jokes and gross visuals to keep the viewer entertained, even if the subtleties are missed.

I'm not sure how this project got green-lit, and why it was made. There are fans who get excited when any rumor of an entry into the Star Trek franchise picks up as press leak. People are lined up for a Star Trek Beyond sequel with Chris Pine, Karl Urban. Zoe Saldana, etc. On the whisper of a production. And yet, I hadn't heard of this film until I had read there was a Star Trek movie going straight into streaming. Why, how bad could it be?

Just finished watching it on Paramount+, and what a waste of a decent cast. Michelle Yeoh is back as Phillippa Georgiou. And she might be leading a good cast, but the writing is so bad it's difficult to know if they are any good. All of them chew up the scenery and pretend they are acting.

The plot revolves around a weapon ordered made by Empress Phillippa Georgiou as a deterrent to any attempted overthrow of her rule. But the weapon has been taken, and a team from Star Fleet, Section 31, has been dispatched to recover it.

We are treated to a lot of phaser fire, explosions, and the need to uncover a mole on the team. If you are desperate to watch anything with Star Trek in the title, then you will grit your teeth and watch.