The Consultant is based on the novel of the same name by Bentley Little. …
The series follows the employees of a mobile gaming company whose leadership is taken over by a sinister consultant, played by Christoph Waltz, the Academy Award winner for playing evil villains.
In fact, without Waltz this show wouldn’t work. He can really sell evil.
He calls himself Regus Patoff — a shortened form of Registered US Patent Office.
A therapist, Jimmy Laird, dealing with severe grief, begins to breach ethical barriers by telling his patients what he completely thinks, resulting in massive changes to his and their lives. …
Kristen Baldwin of Entertainment Weekly gave the series a B+ and described the series as “a funny, brainy grief-com about the power—and dangers—of radical honesty.” …
Writing for The Wall Street Journal, John Anderson stated, “The overall sense is a little like laughing at a funeral; the human impulses are familiar, a little perverse and somehow comforting.”
I’ve not yet cancelled J.K. Rowling though her legacy won’t be Harry Potter — it will be her weird transphobic attacks on transgender people.
I say weird because for most of her life Rowling has advanced philanthropic causes. The charity Lumos. She worked for Amnesty International documenting human rights issues.
In fact, 95% of her works have been for the greater good.
This is an excellent book. It was fun to see how Rhyme first meets his future partner, Amelia Sachs. She’s a bit of a disaster as a NYPD Patrol Officer — but Rhyme sees potential.
The killer is well written, as always with Deaver.
And there are plenty of twists and turns to the plot.
It was adapted for Hollywood in 1999, starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.
NBC had a TV adaptation, as well, that I haven’t seen. It looks even better than the film though it got low ratings. They’ve changed the book to be more entertaining. But only lasted 1 season.
I’m not a fan of reality TV — but this show is good.
10 amateur climbers competing for a cash prize of $100,000 and $100,000 prAna sponsorship.
Less hype, more reality than similar shows. Plenty of respect. Not much faux outrage. No phoney drama.
No psychological warfare or sabotage.
The elimination round each episode is entertaining.
If you can only watch 1 episode, watch the last ➙ #10.
It’s upbeat and positive. I recommend it even for those who have no interest in rock climbing.
This show is presented for the non-climber. I learned a lot.
In fact, as I hiker my tendency is to dismiss climbers — especially mountain climbers — as egomaniac masochists. They get far more media attention than hikers.
Jason Mamoais 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) — 250 pounds. Not really the right build. But the man loves climbing anyway. He makes celebrity appearances. And this show is Jason’s baby.
Host Chris Sharma is legend in the sport. And they brought in another legend, Meagan Martin, to assist him. Meagan’s famous for American Ninja Warrior, Pole Vault, and Climbing.
Cat Runner, one of the competitors, is small. Light is good. But short doesn’t help in climbing. Cat identifies as transgender, one reason he’s a climber — an activity where gender doesn’t matter.
I was cheering for him before finding out he was trans. I was cheering for Cat because he was shortest in a sport where it helps to have long limbs. Reach.
Cat’s from Kentucky, one of the many U.S. states where ReTrumplican politicians are proposing anti-LGBTQ and/or anti-trans legislation in an effort to prove they are more horrible human beings than their next GOP primary challenger. Intolerant A-holes all.
I liked season 1 more than most. And I had mixed feelings about season 1.
Billy Crudup as Cory Ellison is excellent. My favourite character. And there’s a lot more Cory Ellison in season 2. You are rooting for him.
But this show is mostly annoying rich, entitled people complaining about how miserable they are. Whiners.
Season 2 has even more moaning. Again, too much drama. Not enough action. Guardian called it the messiest show on TV.
But Steve Carell as Mitch Kessler is quite believable in season 2. You almost start to like him in the mansion on Lake Como.
Guilty pleasure ~ Reese Witherspoon as Bradley Jackson. Reese really can do no wrong for me. Even with the over-the-top writing of this show. I just like her.
On the other hand, I really appreciated season 2 being realistically depicted over the start of pandemic early 2020. It was a blast from the past to see those first news stories again.
The timeline works up to the point where Tom Hanks gets Covid.
Recall season 1 was about the #MeToo movement.
There are some good moments in season 2. Bradley’s interview with Maggie Brener was awesome.
It’s almost worth watching.
But with all the Apple money, all the talent, I expected better.
Whitechapel (TV series) detectives in London’s Whitechapel district deal with murders which replicated historical crimes.
The first series was broadcast in the UK on 2 February 2009 and depicted the search for a modern copycat killer replicating the murders of Jack the Ripper.
But my favourite character is Steve Pemberton as Edward Buchan. He’s a student of famous London killers and consultant to the police.
There’s much to criticize. Especially the gawd awful video editing. Film students should study this show to see how NOT to do transitions from one scene to the next.
They should watch Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock Holmes to see that done well.
But there’s something entertaining about Whitechapel. … But I can’t explain what it is. 😀
Rick McCharles 