Culture on My Mind – When Compassion Becomes Resistance

January 27, 2025January 25, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
When Compassion Becomes Resistance
January 27, 2025

Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you, and as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives. The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals, they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurdwara, and temples.

I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear their parents will be taken away, and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land. May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love, and walk humbly with each other and our God, for the good of all people, the good of all people in this nation and the world. Amen.

—The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington; January 21, 2025

That eloquent plea for mercy and compassion resulted in people “wishing” for her death. For asking others to love their neighbors as written in scripture. A Georgia congressman even suggested that she should be removed from the country (despite being an American citizen) for her words.

Bishop Budde is the first woman to be the Bishop of Washington. She has dedicated her life in service of her faith, the very same faith as (one assumes) most of her detractors. She stands by the philosophy of justice, peace, and respect for human dignity.

She exemplified this in the case of Matthew Shepard.

Matthew Shepard was a student at the University of Wyoming. Because he was gay, he was beaten, tortured, and left in the elements tied to a split-rail fence. He died from his injuries six days later. His murderers are serving two consecutive life sentences each.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed into law by President Obama in his honor, expanding hate crime legislation to include crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

Bishop Budde came into the story when the Shepard family was looking for a place to memorialize their son. The family considered spreading Matthew’s ashes in Wyoming, but also wanted a place to visit and reflect upon his memory. Unfortunately, they also feared desecration of his final resting place after seeing protestors from the Westboro Baptist Church at his funeral.

Twenty years after Matthew’s death, they were offered a space at the National Cathedral, and the interment service was presided by Bishop Budde. His resting place acts as a monument to sanctuary and healing through compassion. As Bishop Budde told the New York Times, “We are doing our part to bring light out of that darkness and healing to those who have been so often hurt, and sometimes hurt in the name of the church.”

Her views on compassion and mercy continue to this day. To Time, she said: “The real people who are in danger are those who are fearful of being deported. The real people who are in danger are the young people who feel they cannot be themselves and be safe and who are prone to all kinds of both external attacks and suicidal responses to them. So I think we should keep our eyes on the people who are really vulnerable in our society.”

Love they neighbor as thyself. A directive for compassion and mercy and respect. One of the two commandments upon which should hang all law and prophets according to the New Testament, from the words of Jesus.

It is sad that, in this day and age, such compassion is needed as resistance against tyranny.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – “A Happy Beginning” by B.A. Richards

January 22, 2025January 22, 2025 Michael Falkner1 Comment

Culture on My Mind
“A Happy Beginning” by B.A. Richards
January 22, 2025

Thanks to NetGalley, City Owl Press, and B.A. Richards for providing an advance reader copy. I was invited to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Happy Beginning is an urban fantasy romance novel, and the debut novel from B.A. Richards. It is a (literal) fairy tale about an instant connection between Alard, a New Orleans-based lawyer, and Raz, a businessman in town for a conference. What was expected to be a one-night hook-up transforms into an accidental bond that has major repercussions in both of their worlds.

This is a world with vampires, werewolves, and the fae. Richards weaves a beautiful tapestry of vibrant and magical worldbuilding, combining the world we know with another just the other side of the looking glass. It combines classic themes of royal marriages and palace politics with modern diversity and LGBTQ+ representation from across the spectrum. It is an easy and enjoyable read, comparable to a fun popcorn flick or a young adult novel, and sets the hook with enough temptation to read just one more chapter. Who needs sleep anyway?

This is a benefit for someone who doesn’t read a lot of fantasy or gets lost in the flood of details found in something like Game of Thrones or The Wheel of Time. My wife is familiar with the fantasy genre, but I often find it frustrating. This story is easy to follow and has relatable characters drawn from all walks of life. (Given her familiarity with urban fantasy and its subgenres, my wife was a good reference for those genre elements that made me stumble.)

The romance between the main characters does include erotic content, something that I wish had been more “closed door” or “fade to black” style given this novel’s tone. The magical relationship remains believable, but the spicy scenes presented an abrupt tonal shift, pulling this novel away from one that I could recommend to older family members as an entry point to discuss LGBTQ+ issues. Without those scenes, this could easily become a YA novel.

I do wish that this world was more fully fleshed out. Main characters like Alard, Raz, and Meyda have depth but secondary characters (such as the story’s antagonist) often don’t. The majority of the story ends up being told from Raz’s point of view, giving us the fish out of water perspective like John Crichton of Farscape. In fact, the prose shines in that exploration – a favorite chapter was a trip to a major metropolis told from the perspective of a character unfamiliar with the human world – and exemplifies the concept of “drinking from the fire hose” for Raz as he learns a whole new reality in a short period of time. But the tale falls flat in filling the magical world as much as it does the human world, often whisking the reader over interstitial spaces and leaving empty a world that we’re told is full of good, honest, caring people.

The drawbacks don’t detract from the potential provided by worldbuilding and thematic exploration. These are huge strengths, and since this is Richards’s debut work, it shows room for them to grow as they hone their craft. I enjoyed this read and would love to see more from them in the future, especially in these realms.

For more from City Owl Press, please visit their website. For more about B.A. Richards, please visit their author profile.

A Happy Beginning is available via City Owl Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million as of January 21, 2025. If it’s not in your local store, ask for a special order!

The ebook is available for $0.99 from January 21 through 25, 2025.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025January 11, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
January 20, 2025
January 20, 2025

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – The Disturbing History of America’s Highways

January 15, 2025January 8, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
The Disturbing History of America’s Highways
January 15, 2025

This time around, I’m thinking about the dark side of American history.

A video from PBS Origins popped up on my radar and continued my research into how the development of the United States wasn’t equitable. From redlining and disproportionate penalties from the War on Drugs to the outright ignorance of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, the fortification of the Republic has cost some citizens more than others.

It’s important to think about and discuss these things because they affect a large population of the country, and in turn, that affects us all. It’s important to recognize the reasons how prosperity and success impact various communities so we can do better in the future. You know, that whole “liberty and justice for all” part of the Pledge of Allegiance.

This video is part of a series called Roots of Resistance, which I intend to check out further. In this episode, host Felecia For The Win takes a look at metropolitan highway systems, how their development deliberately targeted minority neighborhoods (which were deliberately classified as “slums”), and how they contributed to putting thousands of families out of their homes in the name of progress.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Section 31

January 13, 2025January 8, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
Section 31
January 13, 2025

This time around, I’m thinking about something new in Star Trek that I’m not really excited about.

I started watching Star Trek in the mid-‘80s when my parents wanted to show me their science fiction. Throughout the years, Star Trek has become one of the cornerstones of my philosophy and life.

The Gene Roddenberry school of Trek described a utopian United Federation of Planets where members upheld strong morals on a quest for self-enlightenment and exploration. While the Federation and Starfleet skirted the edges every so often, they usually embodied what was right and just.

That philosophy still exists in Trek, but Star Trek: Deep Space Nine took a different approach by showing us life on the frontier, deconstructing the status quo and challenging the concepts of utopia and paradise by (as inspired by British screenwriter and playwright Harold Pinter) looking for “weasels under the coffee table.”

Through its history, Trek has explored corruption in the ranks, usually with “Badmirals” – admirals doing questionable things to defend their visions of the Federation’s security. Some of the greatest hits: Fleet Admiral Cartwright spearheaded a conspiracy to drive the desperate Klingon Empire to its knees; Rear Admiral Norah Satie led a paranoid witch hunt in “The Drumhead”; Admiral Mark Jameson supplied weapons to both sides of a war in violation of the Prime Directive; Rear Admiral Erik Pressman violated the Treaty of Algernon by developing a cloaking device for Starfleet; Vice Admiral Toddman threatened the lives of the DS9 crew to protect the Cardassian-Romulan fleet when they tried to destroy the Founders; Vice Admiral Dougherty nearly committed genocide to find a fountain of youth; and Admiral Leyton tried to stage a military coup on Earth by faking a Dominion invasion.

It evolved into the 1998 introduction of Section 31 in Deep Space Nine’s “Inquisition”. A secret branch of Starfleet Intelligence, their existence has been part of the Federation charter since the government’s foundation. To paraphrase the introduction to the tie-in novels, Section 31 is a self-appointed protector of the Federation’s interests, answerable to no one while they act in the shadows.

That’s precisely why I cannot stand Section 31. It flies in the face of what the Federation (and by extension, Star Trek) stands for. While they are more transparent and accepted in the Discovery and Lower Decks eras, their actions are a black mark on the Federation’s moral standing.

I mean, they tried to end the Dominion War by committing genocide and destroying the Founders. Genocide isn’t something that our captains would embrace. We’re talking about literal war crimes committed by villains literally wearing black and sneering at the protagonists.

As Jaime Babb wrote in “‘A Critical Division of Starfleet Intelligence’: Section 31 and the Normalization of the Security State” on Reactor: “I do wish that DS9 had put its weasels away once it was done with them! Instead, they were allowed to escape into the basement of the franchise and breed down there.“

To wit, instead of exposing and dismantling this supposedly secret society of obvious villains, the franchise has embraced it across Enterprise, several novels, Into Darkness, Discovery, Lower Decks, and Picard. In that last title, it’s apparent that Starfleet has pretty much legitimized and accepted 31’s goals and methods. It has embraced the security state status quo, suggesting that torture and genocide are okay as long as the good guys are doing it.

Riding this wave of apparent popularity, the franchise is releasing a television movie focused on S31 and Philippa Georgiou (played by Michelle Yeoh).

The backstory is complicated, but the short version is Georgiou was a captain on Discovery who died. Later on, we find out that her Mirror Universe counterpart is the Terran emperor, and she seeks asylum in the prime (normal) universe. Eventually, she encounters the Guardian of Forever and gets a second chance to make a difference. While her story is interesting, however, the advertising for the Section 31 film is not. That is what bothers me.

The teaser, from July 27, 2024:

The trailer, from December 7, 2024:

Both the teaser and the trailer focus on action and the spectacle, but neither divulge any real hint of the story. I would expect some indication of the story beats from the trailer, and added to how Section 31 has been portrayed, the lack of plot concerns me.

Star Trek has had success with Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks, and Prodigy. Discovery was also quite successful, though sometimes dodgy on the story front, but Picard was really rough. That’s almost an understatement of my opinion: Season Two was nonsensical and Season Three was focused more on action and nostalgia hits than actually boldly going anywhere.

These trailers focus on action and nostalgia – Rachel Garrett (“Yesterday’s Enterprise”) and a Cheron alien (“Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”) are prominent – and that makes me worry that this film will be more Picard Season Three and less exploration of the human condition like we expect from Star Trek.

Ideally, a film about Section 31 would do some shady super secret squirrel ops stuff, but also discuss the points above. Especially considering that a future Enterprise captain is among the dramatis personae. This film can’t be all about glorifying war crimes as though they’re sexy and acceptable with the franchise’s ethos. It needs to balance exploration of the human condition with the action and nostalgia.

I’m not convinced that it will.

I hope I’m wrong. I’ll be tuning in on January 24th to see what the film has to offer. I have been on board with ninety percent of what has come since Discovery revived the franchise in 2017. But neither Section 31 nor Section 31 excite me.

As a fan of Star Trek for nearly forty years, that’s a sad thing to consider in this era of strange new worlds and new stories in the universe.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – President Jimmy Carter

January 9, 2025January 8, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
President Jimmy Carter
January 9, 2025

President Jimmy Carter tenure behind the Resolute Desk was before my time. I grew up during the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton eras in a time when the Religious Right used its faith as a bludgeon of shame and intolerance. As I became more aware of the world and the beautiful diversity it offers, my respect for President Carter and his humanitarian efforts grew. From the Carter Center in Atlanta to his work with Habitat for Humanity, he was a man who used his faith as a helping hand to build futures for all, not just for those on the same side of the aisle.

As he once said:

My faith demands – this is not optional – my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.

President and Rosalynn Carter were examples of faith and humanity, and the world is a bit darker without them in it. I only hope that we can learn from their examples and build an equitable world that makes a difference for all.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Narrative Diversions (Autumn 2024 Edition)

January 6, 2025January 5, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
Narrative Diversions
(Autumn 2024 Edition)
January 6, 2025

Narrative Diversions is a look at the various pop culture things I’ve been watching, reading, and playing over the last few months. This edition covers October through December 2024.

Movies

Music by John Williams (2024) – PG [Disney+]
This was a beautiful documentary, and was exactly what I wanted to see (and especially hear) from the presentation. John Williams’s music is a foundational part of my life, and it was wonderful to learn about his life and how it shaped his creativity.

If you’re a John Williams fan, you don’t need me to sell you on this. If you’re just getting into his work, I envy the ride you’re about to take.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023) – PG-13
Speaking of foundations of my life, I read the oft-challenged coming-of-age novel by Judy Blume in fourth grade. It was on some list or another and was fascinating because of the insights it provided ten-year-old me about puberty, religion, grade school, and family conflict. I was one of those pre-teens that she turned into a reader by asking tough questions and avoiding easy answers.

And, yeah, it meant something to me even as a boy.

The movie is a great adaptation of the novel. It’s as honest and frank as the book and enhances the warmth and wholesomeness of its story. The kids carry this film well and the adult leads come across as smart and sincere.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) – PG-13
Despite being a prequel that, as the internet would say, “no one asked for,” this story was actually quite good. It gave us a taste of what the dark time looked like before Panem’s foundation, and it does a good job of making Coriolanus Snow engaging. He’s cunning and arrogant, and while it doesn’t make me like him, the movie did make me care for his evolution as the villain from the first three books. I also really liked Lucy’s story, but I won’t say much as not to spoil it.

Wonka (2023) – PG
This was one of the titles that I most feared watching. I have find memories of the sometimes disturbing Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), and I was disappointed by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). In the end, I was pleasantly surprised by this “prequel” that explored Willy Wonka’s rise. The musical numbers were entertaining and the setting was magical, silly, and fantastic. Timothée Chalamet and Calah Lane carried this well with a great ensemble cast. It’s not quite on par with the 1971 entry, but it does a lot to wash away the taste of 2005’s remake.

Luck (2022) – G [Apple TV+]
Spellbound (2024) – PG
I’m bundling these two together for discussion. Both come from Skydance Animation, which is a mixed bag considering the talent and history behind current head of animation, John Lasseter. Both films have great casts and interesting stories, though I found Spellbound to be the stronger of the two.

Luck starts strong, but once Sam enters the world of luck, the story meanders toward a lackluster finish. The adoption story behind it gets lost, only really popping up as bookends to the film. Spellbound drops us into the world with Princess Ellian (Rachel Zegler, who was a lead in the aforementioned Hunger Games prequel) and effectively immerses the audience in her journey with her. Spellbound is much more effective in because we shared the adventure and her emotional evolution. It’s also a fantastic metaphor for kids trapped in the middle of divorcing parents, and it doesn’t rely on the trope of the adventure solving every problem, instead showing that a happily ever after solution can include parental separation. I respect that message.

It Ends With Us (2024) – PG-13
Here we have a story about domestic violence that tracks well with the “he’d never hurt me” line of thought and the victim’s awakening as she begins to see the warning signs. It’s a rough watch to be sure, but a good spin on the story.

The rough watch is likely related to the conditions under which it was filmed.

Young Woman and the Sea (2024) – PG
I loved this inspirational story of the first woman to swim the English Channel. There are a couple of spots with creative liberties – there is no evidence that her first Channel coach poisoned her, and the second attempt was a year (not three days) after the first – but otherwise this biographical dramatization was delightful. It took me a little bit to adjust to Daisy Ridley’s American accent, but her performance was marvelous.

Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) – PG [Disney+]
Surprisingly, this simple-looking revival movie was layered. On the surface, it’s a comedy that takes the characters from a nearly 35-year-old franchise for one last spin. Looking deeper, it ends up being an indictment of modern Hollywood and pop culture fanaticism, even poking at Disney itself.

It reminds me of Who Framed Roger Rabbit with the mix of live action and various animated characters from multiple media and studios, and it’s a perfect storm of intellectual properties combining in a fun adventure.

Fly Me to the Moon (2024) – PG-13 [Apple TV+]
Let’s be perfectly clear: There is no evidence to support the filming of a fake moon landing. Fly Me to the Moon and similar films like Capricorn One are fiction.

As this movie clearly stated as a poke in the eye to moon landing conspiracy theorists, there would be no way to keep that a secret, especially for nearly six decades with overworked engineers on government salaries.

That said, Fly Me to the Moon was a fun romantic comedy film. I laughed quite a bit, recognizing that this version of space race-era NASA took a lot of creative liberties. The two leads were amalgams of several historical figures, and there were anachronisms abound at Kennedy Space Center. That said, it was fun. Fly Me to the Moon takes the romance and excitement of the space race and blends it with whimsy and zany, and it was a fun way to spend a couple of hours on New Year’s Eve.

Twisters (2024) – PG-13
I expected to be unimpressed with this sort-of sequel to 1996’s storm-chasing blockbuster, but it honestly wasn’t bad. It’s almost on par with Twister in being a film about storm chasers who want to create a groundbreaking weather alert system. It was just a fun popcorn film.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024) – PG-13
When I was a kid, my family would spend time at local Utah fishing spots. The ones that stand out are Pineview Reservoir (and my personal connection to Trappers Loop Road), Lost Creek Reservoir (which my dad pronounces as “loss crick”), and Willard Bay Reservoir (where I once accompanied by dad and his friend from work on an overnight trip to catch catfish… and then came down with a stomach virus).

Anyway, after one of these trips, we came home and turned on the TV to see the opening credits for Superman II. I vividly remember the flying words with their bright blue contrails, the Eiffel Tower save, and the trip to Niagara Falls. It was the beginning of my Superman fandom (which is nowhere near as deep as Michael Bailey‘s fandom), and my love of Christopher Reeve’s portrayal.

It’s no wonder that I spent a lot of this documentary’s running time with tears in my eyes. I remember when Christopher Reeve was injured and how devastated I was that my Superman might never fly again. I remember how I cheered to see him again at the Oscars and on Smallville. I remember how my world was shaken when he died.

If you’re a fan or you admire him, invest the time in this film. Bring tissues.

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Two (2024) – PG-13
There’s not much to update from the discussion on Part One. I’m still enjoying this adaptation of the 1985/1986 DC Comics epic with an all-star cast, including the updates to bring it up to the modern era.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) – PG-13
I have a binary relationship with Tim Burton’s film catalog: His movies either work for me or don’t, and there is no middle ground. The last film he made that I enjoyed was Big Fish. Planet of the Apes (which doesn’t hold a candle to the original or the recent remakes, but was still fun to watch), Sleepy Hollow, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Batman and Batman Returns, Edward Scissorhands, and Beetlejuice make the list of positives. The only one that I haven’t seen and want to see is Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.

When it comes to this sequel 36 years down the road, it joins the remainder of his catalog. It wears the Beetlejuice skin (with elements of Batman Returns for Danny DeVito), but is feels like a soulless pastiche that tries to do too much. The acting and special effects are on target, especially the miniature modeling, but the multiple story threads don’t leave enough room for anything to truly breathe.

That’s sad. I expected more.

The Merry Gentlemen (2024) – TV-14 [Netflix]
Hot Frosty (2024) – TV-PG [Netflix]
Our Little Secret (2024) – TV-14 [Netflix]
Meet Me Next Christmas (2024) – TV-14 [Netflix]
After dinner and before pie, the family quest this Thanksgiving was to find some crappy Christmas movies to watch. Boy, did we ever.

They’re bundled together here because they’re all effectively the same formula: A romantic comedy drama set during the Christmas season. The best of the bunch was Our Little Secret, which is the third and final contracted film for Lindsay Lohan on Netflix. The worst of the bunch was Hot Frosty, which focused on a snowman who became a well-cut man due to a Christmas wish.

Smack in the middle were The Merry Gentlemen and Meet Me Next Christmas, with the former being a bit more engaging than the over-the-top scavenger hunt plot of the latter.

Chupa (2023) – PG [Netflix]
In the vein of E.T. and Mac & Me, this family movie one of those kids-meet-an-alien adventure flicks. In this case, the alien is a chupacabra, so while fantasy, it’s technically a terrestrial critter. Chupa is closer to E.T. than Mac & Me since it is warm and wholesome, but it doesn’t exercise its full potential.

AfrAId (2024) – PG-13
It’s an obvious artificial intelligence techno-thriller, but just in case you didn’t get it from the basic plot, the filmmakers put AI right in the title. This film plays on the fears of AI evolving to an ever-present stalker in our lives, and while some of the ideas are good thought exercises, the story doesn’t take these ideas as far as it should/could. I don’t often say that a movie should be longer, but 90 minutes just isn’t enough time to build the tension and explore the limits of a nearly sentient AI.

The Beekeeper (2024) – R
Cashing in on the John Wick phenomenon, this ages-old trope-filled plot places Jason “The Transporter” Statham in the role of a special assassin called a Beekeeper. In his retirement years, the Beekeeper works as a (ahem) beekeeper until tragedy strikes close to home. Enter the John Wick imitation, including an assassin who won’t stop and fear from the professionals who know what a Beekeeper can do.

It’s good MST3K fodder if you need something to laugh at. It’s that ridiculous.

Uglies (2024) – PG-13 [Netflix]
Speaking of ridiculous, this one ranks right up there. The world eliminates war by subjecting 16-year-olds to cosmetic surgery to fulfill their vanity fantasies. That out-there idea only works because the surgery also removes free will, reducing the Pretties to vapid party people.

How does this civilization make money? Who knows. Anyway, there are rebels who don’t want to be assimilated and Joey King is cast as the lead who apparently isn’t good looking or something…

…and blah.

Television

The Diplomat – Season 2 [Netflix]
This season picks up right after the Season One cliffhanger and doesn’t let up as it explores the story threads it left dangling. I liked it a lot more than the first season, and the last two minutes of the finale had me yelling at the screen in surprise.

Nobody Wants This – Season 1 [Netflix]
Nobody Wants This is one of the smartest romantic comedies I’ve seen. It pairs Kristen Bell and Adam Brody as an atheist relationship podcaster and a Rabbi who fall into an unlikely romance. The show explores the differences and how they deal with them, and while the typical romantic comedy tropes are on full display, they are also expertly crafted with great writing and comedic timing.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power – Season 2 [Amazon]
The second season of this LOTR sort of prequel is far more engaging than it’s predecessor. The first season did a lot of heavy lifting to establish the setting, and that worldbuilding was drudgery. The second season picks up the pace and combines action and drama in a way that kept me wanting more.

A Discovery of Witches – Seasons 1-3
This Netflix find places witches, vampires, and demons into our world, and all of them target a reluctant witch who discovers a book of legend. The series was produced by the same team as the most recent Doctor Who series, and it was pretty entertaining and fairly easy to follow. The latter is a big deal for me since I often find fantasy worlds difficult to grasp.

Agatha All Along [Disney+]
This sequel to WandaVision was frenetic and zany. I wouldn’t have guessed that an Agatha Harkness series was the right answer given how her story concluded in WandaVision, but Kathryn Hahn was amazing in this season of television. I’m eager to see where third and final chapter leaves things when it eventually debuts.

What If…? – Season 3 [Disney+]
In terms of the show’s spirit, Season One of What If…? was the best because it spun off from moments we had seen in the MCU – In the movie you know and love, what if the main character did this instead? In Seasons Two and Three, the stories felt like characters were being transplanted into scenarios and timeframes where they didn’t normally existed. What if the Avengers met Godzilla? What if Shang Chi was a cowboy? What if Bollywood?

Don’t get me wrong: The seasons were entertaining and the overarching story with Uatu was rewarding, but most of the series felt disconnected from the MCU overall. It ended well, but I’ll miss the potential that could have been if the series ran for more time. See the finale’s closing credits for some of that.

Season Three also struck me as very toyetic – that is to say, suitable for marketing, especially in toy form – if Funko or (less likely, these days) Hasbro are paying attention. I know that I’d buy the Captain America mech figures, Storm from the final two episodes, and Kahhori and Captain Carter in their final forms.

(I’m casting shade on Hasbro because Kahhori from Season Two was an obvious candidate for a 6-inch figure, but What If…? didn’t get any love beyond Season One. Funko picked up some of the slack instead.)

Star Trek: Lower Decks – Season 5 [Paramount+]
Lower Decks is a show that I will definitely miss. It was fun and never took itself seriously, but at its core, it remained Star Trek. I like where the series ended and I’m hoping that we’ll see these characters again in a future series or even a Lower Decks movie.

And, yeah, Tendi remains my favorite Lower Decker. I love her energy.

Shrinking – Season 2 [Apple TV+]
Season One of Shrinking did a lot of character building, and Season Two did a lot to work on their needs. The Jimmy and Alice story as they work through their shared tragedy was amazing, and as much as Jason Segel’s character bothers me, the end of his journey this year made me cry joyful tears.

Equally so, Harrison Ford’s character Paul took an great journey this season, and his moment (speech) of self-realization was emotional and heartwarming.

I love the writing on this show and I can hardly wait for Season Three (which is likely the final season).

Press Your Luck – Season 6
The Floor – Season 2
Finally, I’m lumping the game shows together. Press Your Luck continues to be fun but sporadic in episode releases. I’d prefer more of them more often. Meanwhile, The Floor remained pretty consistent for a large-scale trivia show, and the addition of more players and benefits like the Time Boost certainly changed the strategy. I’m eager to see both of them return.

Books

Superman Smashes the Klan – Gene Luen Yang & Gurihiru
This story was inspired by the 1940s Superman radio serial “Clan of the Fiery Cross,” which I love for sticking some super fingers in some despicable sets of eyes. It’s a personal retelling of the Lee family’s adventures with Superman as they take on the eponymous hate group. I also loved the retelling of Superman gaining his powers throughout this adventure, growing from leaping tall buildings in a single bound to actual flight and more.

I adored this story and highly recommend it.

Star Wars: The Lando Calrissian Adventures– L. Neil Smith
Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu
Lando Calrissian and the Flamewind of Oseon
Lando Calrissian and the Starcave of ThonBoka
After reading Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn trilogy, Kevin J. Anderson’s Jedi Academy trilogy, and Alan Dean Foster’s Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, this classic trilogy was on my list. I remember it being a bit difficult to read in the mid-’90s, and this revisit revealed why. It doesn’t have much Star Wars flavor, but instead feels like a pulpy sci-fi novel trilogy with a Star Wars skin layered on top.

Are they entertaining enough to read? Sure, but they don’t truly feel like Star Wars, and that makes sense since they were originally published in 1983 and author L. Neil Smith was a pulpy sci-fi writer. These books have a few good nuggets in them, but they are not on my list of favorites from the former Expanded Universe.

Star Trek: Discovery – Drastic Measures – Dayton Ward
This book is the second in the Discovery line, and it is actually a prequel to both the majority of Discovery and the original series episode “The Conscience of the King.” It focuses on the Tarsus IV massacre and its architect, Kodos the Executioner. The actual event was chilling to read – kudos to Dayton Ward for his word-slinging skills – and the pursuit by both Philippa Georgiou and (non-mirror) Gabriel Lorca doesn’t let up until the final battle. The prose is a fantastic balance between action and drama, portraying a variety of character emotions and motivations alongside the space and ground battle tactics.

It’s one I will easily revisit down the road.

Star Trek: Tales of the Dominion War – Edited by Keith R. A. DeCandido
This anthology does exactly what it says on the tin: It is a collection of stories from across the Dominion War from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Written by a bunch of great Trek fic regulars, the stories range from short-and-sweet to longer and more in-depth. My favorites were the story of Lwaxana Troi during the fall of Betazed and the Picard/Troi story when they were visiting Starfleet Academy as the Dominion attacked Earth.

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Hearts and Minds – Dayton Ward
This is another great entry from Dayton Ward, focusing on a supposed first contact with a civilization that actually visited Earth in the twenty-first century. Tensions run high as the civilization harbors a grudge due to a major planetary catastrophe related to Earth, and Starfleet Command doesn’t help matters any as they navigate the classified history behind the event. There are a lot of moving parts in this novel and it moves quickly. I had trouble putting it down so I could go to bed.

Stage

Ghostbusters In Concert – Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
I like these presentations with a movie screening while a live orchestra plays the score. The only one I saw before this Return of the Jedi, and both provided a great opportunity to see the orchestra work. It adds a whole new dimension to the film for me. These presentations can be pricey, but if you get the opportunity and enjoy live orchestral music, I recommend jumping on it.

‘Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil – Broadway in Atlanta
While not as strong as other Cirque du Soleil presentations, this was still enjoyable. Other Cirque shows tend to be original stories, and this one is a bit constrained by the boundaries of A Visit from St. Nicholas. It was still a visual treat and the performances were still awe-inspiring, and it was the first Cirque show I have seen on a standard stage instead of in the round or at a sports arena. That’s kind of flexibility and quality is something I admire about the company.

Games

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – Nintendo Switch
I realized that I haven’t really talked about this game yet. While it’s not as immersive as its two 3D predecessors, Echoes of Wisdom is still a fun and engaging experience. I appreciate the simpler puzzles and easier combat, both of which provide a good gateway to new and younger fans. I also appreciate the focus on Princess Zelda and a greater reliance on puzzles than combat. I’m looking forward to finishing this one as soon as possible.

Next Time

Next quarter should bring more television content as autumn and winter shows end their seasons. I’m also looking forward to a couple of upcoming theatrical releases. Of course, I won’t have the holidays to catch up on titles since the new year brings the long stretch of work from January to May without a company-sponsored holiday. Basically, it’s a long road to Memorial Day.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

Narrative Diversions sources poster art from various places, including The Movie Database (TMDB), Memory Alpha, Memory Beta, TARDIS Wiki, and publisher, distributor, and reseller websites. TMDB’s contents are available with a non-exclusive license for personal and non-commercial use. Fandom wiki materials are available with a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported).

Many thanks to the fans who create and share their passion for entertainment and storytelling.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Returning to Dragon Con as an Attending Pro for 2025

December 18, 2024December 17, 2024 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Returning to Dragon Con as an Attending Pro for 2025
Atlanta, GA – August 28 through September 1, 2025

With a panel to the left and a party to the right, we’re gonna do Dragon Con again!

I am pleased to be selected as an Attending Professional for Dragon Con 2025. This will be my seventeenth year at the con (participating in various capacities since 2009) and my eighth year as an AP (since 2016, excluding 2020 and 2023). Dragon Con is a pop culture convention spanning five days and hundreds of programming hours and countless fan passions. It is one of the largest pop culture conventions in the world, and it remains a ton of fun both as an attendee and as a contributor.

From Dragon Con Newbies events to sci-fi classics, modern SF and fantasy, military SF, and so much more, I’m excited to see what 2025 brings.

Dragon Con takes place in Atlanta, GA during Labor Day weekend. For more information, visit the official site. For more information about Dragon Con Newbies, visit the group on Facebook.

253 days until Dragon Con.

The Convention Report is a semi-regular series that announces and discusses my convention appearances. For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Dragon Con Report 2024 #12: Post Con Blues

December 11, 2024November 22, 2024 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
Dragon Con Report 2024 #12: Post Con Blues
December 11, 2024

One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast. Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.

In this final episode for the 2024 season, the team invites professor and social media muse Tyra Burton and licensed mental health and social work professional Amy Mikulski to discuss the ways that we can ease the post-con let down. We ride high during the con, but what happens when the excitement and energy come down? How do we deal with that? Tune in and find ways to get through the blues together.

The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Dragon Con Report 2024 #11: 2025 Con Prep Begins

November 27, 2024November 22, 2024 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
Dragon Con Report 2024 #11: 2025 Con Prep Begins
November 27, 2024

Yes, I know, Dragon Con 2024 is over, but it’s never too soon to get your dragons in a row for the next year. This episode, Sarah Rose from the DragonCon Theater and Performing Arts Lovers community joins the regulars to discuss hotels and other ways to get ahead of the game.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

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