Media Diet for 1.13.25

I want to try a bit of a different approach for the blog for some posts. I’d like to get in a bit of a pattern for a topic or two. Right now, my thought is that each Monday, I’ll fill you in on what I’ve been doing from a reading, writing, and playing perspective. Maybe this will be a full blown review of something, or it might just be a general overview. Here’s the thing: I’m not going to be commenting on something if I didn’t like it or just found it fine. In other words, if I say I watched a show or read a book, I will only comment on it if it’s something I really enjoyed or feel like it’s a must read/watch. That way, a “no comment” could mean I didn’t like it, or it could mean I had a fine time watching it. The fact that I watched or read it at all should say it’s something I found worth my time to at least give a shot.

Yes, I’m a bit worried saying nothing will be interpreted as a bad review, but that’s not my intent. Really, I’ll just be posting if I would have given the whatever an 8.5 or up (out of 10). Make sense? If the whatever-it-is is available to buy in print, I’ll throw in a link. Yes, I get a kickback on the stuff you buy there. No, I’m not getting paid other than to recommend or review anything.

Ready?

Media:

–The Penguin 1 (Max): I’ve been watching this on my lunch breaks, and a few episodes have been really engrossing. I’m in episode 6 at the moment. Usually only have time for about half an episode a day.

–Andor 1 (Disney+): What a fantastic show. We had started it right when it came out, then got distracted when it was only doing an episode per week, and then never got back to it. (That’s happened to a number of shows I watch, which makes me think maybe I shouldn’t watch shows until they’re all finished. Except then the streaming company thinks no one wanted to watch it . . . ) This is a great example of what shows in the Star Wars universe can and should be like.

–Twisters (the sequel to Twister) (Peacock)

–Ted Lasso 1 (AppleTV+): Still pretty much perfect. I continue to find the contrast between the content and the message/theme to be a bit jarring, though. It’s such a heartwarming show, I do wish they toned it down so it’s something I could watch with my kids and recommend to everyone. I’m not honestly sure what the adult content brings to the table that couldn’t be done in another route. But other than that, I love this show.

Books

The Way of Kings: I want to read the latest book in the Stormlight Archive (by Brandon Sanderson), but I’ve forgotten enough of what happens in the earlier books that I need to reread them. This is not an easy ask. I love the books, but they are very long, and trying to read 1,000+ pages in a week (to meet my goal) means I have to really set aside time for it. The fact that I’m doing just that should be recommendation enough right there.

Words of Radiance: (See above)

Edgedancer: Thank goodness for the novellas in the series. I’m counting them as full books. (Brandon can go on about how they’re “only” 40,000 words all he likes, and so he feels like they don’t count as novels. Speaking as someone who’s written 60,000 word novels, I say they’re close enough to count!)

Games

–Path of Exile 2 (PS5): It’s in beta, so it’s a bit too early for me to really comment.

–Dead Cells (PS5): Great roguelike. I love the controls and the variety of weapons. I’m still not very good at it, though . . .

Look at the Stars (board game): A great family game about creating constellations.

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