Netflix's Altered Carbon

I watched the first episode of this show. I won't be watching any more.

For the analysis, I refer you to the inimitable Daddy Warpig:

"Netflix’s new Cyberpunk-Noir series (because what Cyberpunk needed was even MORE cynicism and venality), based on the 2002 book of the same name by Richard K. Morgan, is ten hours of the worst humanity has to offer. Literally. The very worst. The series is more violent, uglier, and more all-around depraved than HBO’s A Game of Thrones. Watching it leaves you feeling filthy inside, like your soul itself needs a good, hot shower."

There's more at the link.

Watching this first episode reminded me of a C. S. Lewis quote:

It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree helping each other to one or the other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all of our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations — these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit — immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.- The Weight of Glory

I've covered before how hope is what's missing from many of the stories of our modern day. Altered Carbon proves the point eloquently. 

Update on the Unplug and Some New Plugs

Turns out I'm not dead, just really busy. The post-Christmas season has been one thing after another for me, but it seems to be calming down.

In the odd five or ten minute break, however, I have found some fun entertainment.

First, Larry Correia has these two posts over at his blog about his experiments in creating a fast paced, simple table top game based on Gritty Cop Shows.

The recaps were incredibly fun (more so for me since I've actually seen Heat and am a big fan of cop procedurals and crime dramas). I so want to play this game.

Second, I stumbled across the You Tube channel for Spacedock. From the channel: "A series where we look at the specifications, history and lore of fictional spacecraft from science fiction. Any Spacecraft, any Sci-Fi."

The videos are usually short, running 5 to 10 minutes, but new videos are posted often and there are plenty of them. I've enjoyed listening to the breakdowns there, especially getting a peak at franchises I'm not as familiar with, like The Expanse.

If that weren't enough, the host of Spacedock has a longer form podcast called Subspace that has just begun.

Go check those out and check back here soon for some exciting news!