Better Call Saul<\/em>, season six<\/a> A for the season, A+ for the series.<\/p>\n The Queen\u2019s Gambit<\/a> B+<\/p>\n Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner<\/a> B<\/p>\n The Gray Man<\/a> B-<\/p>\n Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn\u2019t Exist<\/a> A-<\/p>\n Pearl Jam – 2022\u201305\u201312, Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA<\/a> A<\/p>\n Bad River<\/a> Eddie Vedder in Conversation with Bruce Springsteen<\/a> Adventures of A+K<\/a>
\nI wrote about this here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nIt took me awhile, but I finally got to this. Not sure if it was better or worse to watch it well after its initial buzz had faded. While I enjoyed the story, I felt it had some big holes and ended a little too cutesy. But Anya Taylor-Joy was dazzling and delightful in the lead role. I could watch her in about anything.<\/p>\n
\nOf the food\/travel shows I\u2019ve sampled, this comes the closest to Anthony Bourdain\u2019s oeuvre. But it still falls short. David Chang, who was a close friend of Bourdain\u2019s, doesn\u2019t appear to have the same touch with people, or at least it doesn\u2019t come across on video. There are moments in each episode where I wondered if there was any true chemistry between him and his guests. But that often seemed to be a result of decisions the producers made more than their interactions.<\/p>\n
\nThe near non-stop action was nice. The story seemed like a bunch of bits picked up from other movies. I\u2019m always happy to watch Ana de Armas. Chris Evans was a great villain. But Ryan Gosling brought zero charisma to the lead role.<\/p>\n
\nOh man, the Manti Te\u2019o story gets the two-hour, documentary treatment! And it\u2019s even crazier than I remembered. Although clearly set up as a Te\u2019o rehab piece – it focuses a little too much on his desire to help others and forgive those who wronged him – it is still an absolutely enthralling watch.<\/p>\n
\nI don\u2019t want to speak ill of a member of my favorite band, but I\u2019ve never been a huge Matt Cameron fan. He is a great drummer, technically precise as any drummer of his generation. But he is so locked in that he can come across as boring. While he may be a great match for the band in terms of personality – he is the longest tenured drummer in the band\u2019s history – I think the band also lost some of their edge when he joined them. When he was laid out with Covid last spring, the band pulled in some friends to fill Cameron\u2019s seat so their shows could go on. This was one of those shows. This is a great performance, fueled, I think, by the presence of drummers who are a little less precise yet more wild than Cameron. There is a terrific energy that harkens to the band\u2019s earlier days.<\/p>\n
\nShorts, Etc<\/h3>\n
\nThis month\u2019s Beau Miles joint. I think this may be the most impactful of his videos that I\u2019ve watched. The moment when he arrives at the point where hundreds (thousands?) of plastic bottles, balls, and general trash are blocking the river really struck me. Mostly because I know there are dozens of locations just like that in every major urban area. Pick your shit up and recycle it, fools.<\/p>\n
\nWhat a fun chat. Eddie is so interesting to listen to, especially in settings like this when he is relaxed and comfortable.<\/p>\n
\nAlaska looks pretty dope.<\/p>\n