It's been a while since I put up a blog, and I've done some... things... since then. So I figured, why not have a random topics blog?
__________ The Following __________
I finished watching the third and final season of the mediocre show "The Following" recently. The series began with a flat delivery of a cool premise: that a serial killer has a devout following of other killers who hide among the general population and reveal themselves at unexpected times. By the third and final season, the killer was set for execution and all that was left was the cleanup.
The third season introduced a wonderful threat and character in Theo, but ultimately had him begin acting much more stupidly in order for the FBI to take him out. Which was a disappointment in a big way, but would have been worth it if their concept for Season 4 could have played out. Spoilers ahead.
The series ends with Kevin Bacon's FBI character discovering an Illuminati-like group of rich serial killers that he makes his next targets. But to challenge a group that can manipulate the news and politics, he must first fake his own death and work from the shadows, embracing his darker side that his original foe Joe Carroll had been insisting existed inside him. in short, Joe Carroll succeeded in corrupting Ryan Hardy (Bacon) into becoming a serial killer himself, but not without what he still perceives to be a righteous cause. Sounds a bit Dexter-like at this point, but consider this on top of it all: we just spent three seasons developing relationships between Ryan and his two partners Max and Mike, who both presumably would have been spending season 4 hunting down Ryan without knowing it.
Could have been a strong storyline for a season, but alas they'll never get the chance to under-deliver it. It was a bittersweet ending in such a meta way.
__________ Video Stuff __________
I have lately been working on putting together some "review" videos for various games, which I will voice with various impressions. I have only a handful that I can do decently, so I'm looking to challenge myself a little bit with this. I'm hoping to have one up for Star Wars Battlefront fairly soon.
I am hoping to get some real video editing practice on my PS4 before E3 time so I can do my traditional E3 coverage in video format rather than an absurdly long text article that nobody reads all of. I've long had an idea to try and do a series of podcast like videos if anybody else with a PS4 would care to join me; the premise being that we discuss topics while we play some game either together or in a share play situation. Let me know if you're into that.
__________ John Scott Makes The NHL His Bitch __________
I watched the improved NHL All Star game this year, but unfortunately missed the skills competition. The main story of the day was of course John Scott. For those of you who do not follow the NHL, John Scott is an enforcer who has spent most of this season with the Arizona Coyotes. He's not exactly an All Star talent, but he was voted as team captain of the Pacific Division by internet votes, basically just to prove that the NHL wouldn't actually honor the online vote. And the NHL did everything they could not to honor it.
A trade was orchestrated just before the All Star game that involved three teams. It's goal however was singular: get John Scott out of the All Star game. They traded him to Montreal, who immediately put him in the minors and the NHL initially considered him disqualified from participating in the All Star Game. But the fans did not go quietly into that good night; they instead campaigned again for Scott to captain the Pacific division that he was no longer a part of. The NHL had no choice but to cave in to its fanbase.
John Scott received some of the biggest ovations from the Nashville crowd over the weekend, but he made a point to prove that he deserved this as much as anyone else. The man whose inclusion in the All Star game some higher ups in the NHL considered disgraceful proved himself by scoring two goals in his first game (he only had 5 goals total in the 8.5 years he had played in the NHL prior to that night) and blocked lots of shots between the two games he played, leading his team to victory. John Scott was the MVP, not because of what he meant to fans who just wanted to prove a point, but because he unquestionably earned it. He endured the NHL's disdain for his selection and shoved it right back down their throats.
And over a weekend that in any prior year would have been considered something of a joke, John Scott became something of a hero for the under-appreciated everyman. Now that it's all over, John Scott went where everyone knew he was going to end up before the weekend began. But nobody could have predicted before the weekend began that the MVP of the All Star game would play his next game in the minors. He may not have ended up finishing the hat trick either traditionally or with the Gordie Howe variety (though he did work a mock fight in there in case he could get the assist later), but my hat is nonetheless off to the man.
Image may be NSFW.
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__________ Game of Thrones __________
This may or may not surprise some of you, but I have not yet watched Game Of Thrones. I don't have HBO, and I never tracked down the DVDS despite hearing enough about it to know I would love it. A friend of mine recently forced me to watch the first episode because, as he put it, "Once you get a taste, you won't be able to help yourself". So predictably, I'm planning on renting the first season fairly soon and surrendering my life to it. So if I start getting a little game of thrones gif happy in the near future, you know why. Speaking of...
__________ Arrested Development __________
I finally finished catching myself up on the third season and started watching the fourth season. I have to say, the magic is somewhat gone. I am not a fan of how character specific these episodes have really become; the show is at its best when the entire family has things to do that can overlap in humorous ways. And while I got a kick out of their self-referencing and fourth wall breaking in regards to getting cancelled in the third season, I wasn't so hot on the fourth season kicking off with so much focus on the "movie about the Bluth family". Also not loving Seth Rogan and Kristen Wiig's parts; Rogan's just not funny as the young George Sr and Wiig just doesn't hold a candle to Jessica Walter.
I've heard mumblings about a season 5, but I honestly can't say that I can get myself through season 4 right now. Such a disappointment.
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That's all I've got today. If you've got any thoughts or comments about anything I've said, you know what to do with them.
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Quotes Of The Day
"I will tell you what I tell every former blogger when they come back... Meow!"
-foxrevolution
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Today In Music (February 2nd)
Killers by Iron Maiden released on February 2nd, 1981. Also released on this day:
- Lita by Lita Ford (1988)
- A Trick Of The Tail by Genesis (1976)