The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver

The Bone Collector is a 1997 thriller novel by Jeffery Deaver introducing Lincoln Rhyme, a quadriplegic forensic criminalist.

HOW does a quadriplegic solve crimes?

He has to be a genius.

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.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Reality TV – The Climb

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 Mamoa is 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.

Cat organized the Queer Climber’s Network.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related:

The Last Ship – season 1

It’s pretty bad. Bad. Toxic, macho, military American jingoism.

BUT I started watching season 1 (2014) because it’s based on a global viral pandemic that has wiped out over 80% of the world’s population.

Something I feared MIGHT happen March 2020.

There’s plenty of science in this otherwise dumbass ACTION show.

The Last Ship is a 218-person crew of an unaffected U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, that has been tasked with supporting a scientist trying to develop a vaccine.

It’s a typical Michael Bay project. Cliche dialogue. Predictable, sentimental story lines.

Most of the cast look like Hollywood actors, not people. How many pretty young females crew American destroyers in real life? 😀

I do like Rhona Mitra as Dr. Rachel Scott. She’s like Lara Croft trying to save the world by inventing a vaccine.

And Charles Parnell as the Master Chief Petty Officer is terrific. Later starring in Top Gun, I’m betting he’s in high demand right now.

The show is popular — despite low ratings with critics.

Tons of action. Especially explosions.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Morning Show – season 2

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.

… Should I watch season 3?

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Acapulco – season 1

Acapulco is a Spanish / English comedy hit. 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Nothing amazing. But I do love the look of the 1980s Mexican resort.

And it’s charming. And silly.

A likeable poor kid from the neighbourhood gets his dream job as the  Las Colinas Resort as a pool boy.

His buddy Memo is entertaining, too.

Camila Perez as Julia Gonzalez, a receptionist, is the potential love interest. Gorgeous.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Whitechapel (TV series)

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.

Phil Davis as D.S. Ray Miles (far left) is good.

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. 😀

SAS: Rogue Heroes – season 1

Very entertaining. Rotten Tomatoes 100%.

An over the top war story — with modern rock soundtrack.

… a  British television historical drama series which depicts the origins of the British Army Special Air Service (SAS) during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II.

The storyline is a broadly accurate representation of real events, as described by Ben Macintyre in his book of the same name. …

SAS: Rogue Heroes was the sixth most-watched UK drama series of 2022, and the fourth most popular of the year on the BBC.

It’s been renewed for another year.

The cast is great — though by far the most compelling role is Jack O’Connell as Paddy Mayne.

In the TV adaptation he’s an Irish poet / philosopher / drunk brawler.

In real life, his family says he was “a very caring, loving man”.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

The Last Kingdom is the first book in the Saxon Stories, a historical novel series written by Bernard Cornwell about the birth of England in the ninth and tenth centuries. …

The first book is excellent — but I doubt I’ll continue as I don’t like the gore and ultra violence.

The books have been adapted to a successful TV series, also called The Last Kingdom.

It reminds me of the TV series Vikings — which I quit due to excessive violence.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

His Dark Materials – 3 seasons

Somehow I managed to get through most of 3 seasons of His Dark Materials.

It really isn’t very good.

The books are much better – His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass)

And the big budget 2007 film is better – The Golden Compass. GREAT cast.

My favourite character on the TV adaptation might be Ruth Wilson as Mrs Coulter. That’s a tough role when you know you’ll be compared with Nicole Kidman who’s perfect in the film version.

The show follows the orphan Lyra, played by Dafne Keen, as she searches for a missing friend and discovers a kidnapping plot related to an invisible cosmic substance called Dust.

Ultimately, I didn’t care much about the plot. The prophecy. The Magisterium. Nor many of the characters. Dust. Angels. I really didn’t care about anything in this show.

Most interesting are the animal companions called daemons.

And there are some interesting special effects and speculative fiction touches.

Read the books. Watch the movie. Skip the TV series.

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Little America – seasons 1&2

What a great idea. Short vignettes of the funny, romantic, heartfelt, inspiring and unexpected lives of immigrants in America. Based on true stories.

In an era where ReTrumplican Americans are against immigrants, this show is timely.

In fact, filming of episode 8 had to be moved to Canada when Trump placed a 90-day restriction on entry to the U.S. by nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

Shaun Toub as Faraz was maybe my favourite character in the season one 8 different episodes.

Little America is a series produced for Apple TV+.

Season 1 launched January, 2020. Season 2 December 2022.

Rotten Tomatoes 95%.

I found season 2 not as compelling, though still worth watching.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.