"Paul Levinson's It's Real Life is a page-turning exploration into that multiverse known as rock and roll. But it is much more than a marvelous adventure narrated by a master storyteller...it is also an exquisite meditation on the very nature of alternate history." -- Jack Dann, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

La Brea Season One Finale: A Fine Set of Time Travelling Chess Pieces in Place


An excellent season one finale of La Brea just on NBC tonight, confirming my view that La Brea is the best new science fiction series on network television in years.

Several crucial questions were answered, at least partially.  The sinkholes are not a natural occurrence.  They were created by a group of scientists, including Rebecca and Isaiah/Gavin's grandfather.  This means La Brea is even much more of a classic time travel story than it may have appeared at first.  Scientists building time machines, in which the machines are sinkholes to the past which also can be climbed back up to the present -- all that is catnip in time travel storytelling for me.

We still don't know who Isaiah's grandfather is, and why he was so determined not to let Isaiah go back to the present and become Gavin.  In a related development, we saw the outside of the facility that Rebecca built 12,000 years ago, but we don't what's in it.  All of that is grist for Season Two.

And also up for Season Two are Gavin, Izzy, and adult Lilly getting back to prehistoric Seattle, presumably to the same exact time 12,000 years in the past as Eve and company.  It'll be quite a trip to see the family reunited.  My vote is for a boat that travels down south not too far from the shore.

La Brea took its time in getting all of these pieces in place.  The first season probably focused too long on the initial impact of the sinkhole in Los Angeles, and the stories of people on both sides of the time divide.  But now that almost everyone is where they should be -- if not in terms of what they want, but as players in a superior time travel drama -- I'm happy and all set for what the next season delivers to us.  The mammoth on the beach with those tusks is a good start.

See also La Brea 1.1: Pros and Cons of Falling Into the Past ... La Brea 1.2: Deepening Horizons ... La Brea 1.3: Descending Into the Maelstrom ... La Brea 1.4: Expanding Horizons ... La Brea 1.5: The Letter and the Resemblance ... La Brea 1.6: Cross-Temporal Communication ... La Brea 1.7: Time Sinkholes Not Only in Different Places but from Different Times ... La Brea 1.8: Clearer Visions ... La Brea 1.9: Lilly and the Cow




 

Hanna Season 3: The Roller Coaster Arrives at the Station



Finally had a chance to see the short final season -- six episodes in season 3, rather than the eight episodes in each of seasons 1 and 2 -- of Hanna on Amazon Prime Video since 24 November 2021.  Yeah, the competition, i.e., The Beatles: Get Back on Disney+, was just too appealing.

But Hanna was as strong as ever, non-stop rollercoaster action with unpredictable swerves with characters we've come to care about, starting with Hanna.   She's more accomplished than ever, but also more introspective, as befits someone with her pedigree and current situation.

As was the case since the second season, she's enormously helped by Marissa, whose backstory is finally spelled out in Season 3.  Indeed, this season is so much about Marissa that it could have been called Marissa, or maybe Hanna and Marissa.  Esme Creed-Miles does a fine job as Hanna, and Mireille Enos is better than ever as Marissa, which is to say, she deserves at least an Emmy nomination for her performance in this final season.

Ray Liotta is introduced as the new archvillain Gordon Evans, replacing Dermot Mulroney's John Carmichael in that role.   Here I'd say the combination of the characters and the acting and plot wasn't the best.  Evans was too one-dimensional, betraying not a shred of decency, and Carmichael's evolution needed a bit more explanation.

But the young women in UTRAX were all well acted and motivated as characters. and all in all I'd rate this finale season as well worth seeing, and providing a satisfying closure that leaves room for a sequel somewhere down the road, which I'd definitely find time to watch.

See also Hanna 2: High Intellect and Octane Espionage ... Hanna: Top Notch


Podcast Review of Dexter: New Blood 1.4


Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 220, in which I review Dexter: New Blood 1.4 on Showtime.

Written blog post review of Dexter: New Blood 1.4


Written review of episodes in all eight seasons of Dexter (the original series):

Reviews of Dexter Season 8 Premiere: Mercury in Retrograde, Dexter Incandescent ... Dexter 8.2: The Gift ... Dexter 8.3: The Question and the Confession ... Dexter 8.4: The "Lab Rat" and Harry's Daughter ... Dexter 8.5: Just Like Family ... Dexter 8.6: The Protege ... Dexter 8.7: Two Different Codes? ... Dexter 8.8: "A Great Future" ... Dexter 8.9: The Psycho Son ... Dexter 8.10: Watch Out, Buenos Aires ... Dexter 8.11: "Not the Old Dexter" ... Dexter Series Finale: Solitude, Style, and a Modicum of Hope


Reviews of  Dexter Season 7.1-3: Sneak Preview Review ... Dexter 7.4: The Lesson in Speltzer's Smoke ... Dexter 7.5: Terminator Isaac ... Dexter 7.6: "Breaking and Entering" ... Dexter 7.7: Shakespearean Serial Killer Story ... Dexter 7.8: Love and Its Demands ... Dexter 7.9: Two Memorable Scenes and the Ascension of Isaac ... Dexter 7.11: The "Accident" ... Dexter Season 7 Finale: The Surviving Triangle


Reviews of  Dexter Season 6 Sneak Preview Review ... Dexter 6.4: Two Numbers and Two Killers Equals? ... Dexter 6.5 and 6.6: Decisive Sam ... Dexter 6.7: The State of Nebraska ... Dexter 6.8: Is Gellar Really Real? .... Dexter 6.9: And Gellar Is ... ... Dexter's Take on Videogames in 6.10 ...Dexter and Debra:  Dexter 6.11 ... Dexter Season 6 Finale: Through the Eyes of a Different Love

 


Reviews of  Dexter Season 4: Sneak Preview Review ... The Family Man on Dexter 4.5 ...Dexter on the Couch in 4.6 ... Dexter 4.7: 'He Can't Kill Bambi' ... Dexter 4.8: Great Mistakes ...4.9: Trinity's Surprising Daughter ... 4.10: More than Trinity ... 4.11: The "Soulless, Anti-Family Schmuck" ... 4.12: Revenges and Recapitulations

Reviews of Season 3: Season's Happy Endings? ... Double Surprise ... Psychotic Law vs. Sociopath Science ... The Bright, Elusive Butterfly of Dexter ... The True Nature of Miguel ...Si Se Puede on Dexter ... and Dexter 3: Sneak Preview Review

 
 

Check out this episode!

Podcast Review of Invasion 1.8


Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 219, in which I review the eighth episode of Invasion on Apple TV+. 

Earlier podcasts about Invasion:

Written blog post review of Invasion 1.7 is here.


Check out this episode!

Monday, November 29, 2021

Curb Your Enthusiasm 11.6: The Man on the Roof



Lots of funny parts in Curb Your Enthusiasm 11.6 last night, but, some reason, my favorite was the guy on Larry's roof.  Maybe it was because I had a guy on my roof, too, in the not too distant past, before our never-ending age of COVID.   Though, come to think of it, he was up in one of our trees.

But the point is: he was a gardener not a tree specialist, and we needed a dangling big branch pretty high up to be cut down in a hurry, and all the tree specialists we knew were booked for weeks.  So our gardener climbed up there, with all kinds of ropes, and my wife and I worried about the worst.  Fortunately, he came down ok, but the branch he sawed off came this close to taking out one of our windows, because the rope layout wasn't that good.  Next time we'll wait for a tree guy.

Larry's house is often the funniest place on the show.  Leon's always there, talking about what he likes to tap, which has become de rigueur on Curb, and I'm fine with that.  But Larry's entitled to his grievances and idiosyncrasies if they're in his own home, right?

The other best part of the show was Jeff standing up to Larry about charging his phone in the restaurant.  It's rare that Jeff does this, which makes it good to see, though in this case, I'd say Larry is 100% right.  I mean, his phone was just about out of power, so Jeff could've at least given Larry the charge for ten minutes.

One story which I didn't agree with Larry about was the chiropractor's underpants (hey, that could've been a good title for this review).  What was Larry doing looking at that so long?  I would've turned my attention to my phone ... though, come to think of it, Larry's phone might have still been uncharged at that point, I don't recall.  But even putting the phone aside, Larry should have just looked out of a window.

See you here next week.

See also Curb Your Enthusiasm 11.1: Not Quite Tsuris ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 11.2: Twist on Twist ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 11.3: Highs and Lows ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 11.4-5: How Much of a Shirt?

See also:  Curb Your Enthusiasm 10.1: Reunited! ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 10.3: Garbage Cans and Apples ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 10.8: Meets Mad Men ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 10.9: Science Fiction ... Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 10 Finale: Unjust Desserts

See alsoCurb Your Enthusiasm 9.1: Hilarious! ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.2: Wife Swapping ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.3: Benefits ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.4: "Hold You in his Armchair" ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.5: Schmata At Large ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.8: The Unexpected Advocate ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.9: Salmon Discretion ... Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.10: Outfit Tracker



Sunday, November 28, 2021

Hightown 2.6: True Love and Deception

 


Hightown 2.6 came back tonight after a two-week gap with a top-notch episode.

[Spoilers ahead ... ]

First and foremost: Good to see Ray and Renee together.  But why, when Ray asked her what it was that got her to come see him, didn't she tell him that she thinks she's carrying his baby? I mean, yeah, she wants to keep her options open, but certainly telling Ray that is better than her telling him she accidentally shot and killed Jorge, or telling Ray nothing, which will keep his suspicions in play?

Next, not so good to see Jackie in such a tailspin.  Leslie did make it clear that she was in it just for the fun, and she was straight.  But that's Jackie's character -- she falls fast and hard for people, and that can pull her in directions way beyond her common sense.  I felt bad to see Ed say he's going to retire because of what Jackie said to him -- but I did say that I didn't expect to last this season.

I'm enjoying seeing Frankie under increasing pressure.  He's usually about as calm as they come, but Jorge missing after Frankie killed Daisey right in from Jorge is getting to Frankie.  Here's my prediction: when Frankie goes, it will be because Osito kills him.

Speaking of which -- it's beginning to be time for Osito to get out of prison. I have no idea just how that is going to come to pass, but especially with Jorge gone, Frankie needs someone to back him.

The table's set for major confrontations and upheavals in Hightown.  The Cape in December is a good time for that to happen.

See also Hightown 2.1: Switching Ups and Downs ... Hightown 2.2: Some of My Favorite Things ... Hightown 2.3: Dinners and Almost Dinners ... Hightown 2.4: Approaching Midseason Predictions ... Hightown 2.5: Bullets and Love

And see also Hightown 1.1: Top-Notch Saltwater and Characters ... Hightown 1.2: Sludge and Sun ... Hightown 1.3: Dirty Laundry ... Hightown 1.4: Banging on the Hood ... Hightown 1.5-6: Turning Point and the Real True ... Hightown 1.7: Two Things ... Hightown 1.8: Up and Down and Up


Dexter: New Blood 1.4: Harrison and Kurt


A superb Dexter 1.4 tonight, in which the truth comes out -- at least to us, and in one case, also to Dexter -- about two people we wondered about after last week's episode.

[Spoilers follow ... ]

First and foremost, we now know that Harrison is Dexter's son in the way that Dexter most feared.  Harrison stabbed and nearly killed Ethan.  Harrison revved himself up, looking at images of the Trinity killer and Harrison's mother, slain by Trinity -- and then he attacked Ethan.  Why Ethan?  His drawings, which Harrison saw, made Ethan a good victim, someone around whom Harrison could spin his made-up story. And Harrison knew that Audrey and the school bullies, for their own separate reasons, would admire Harrison for his "heroism".  The only problem that Harrison may not have thought about, or thought out to any big extent, is what his father Dexter will do about this.   Possibly, one of Harrison's motivations is to get his father to totally love him by doing what Dexter did and does.  As for Dexter, I'd say there's no way he'll do anything other than use all his smarts and talents to protect his son.

And then there's Kurt, someone whom, so far, Dexter does not know the full truth about.  Clearly, Kurt made up the story about Matt facetiming him, to tamp down the police investigation into Matt's disappearance.  And that's because ... Kurt is the sicko who is kidnapping and then killing those girls, and doesn't want the police anywhere near him.

Is it too much of a coincidence that the father of the guy Dexter killed is himself a killer? Probably.  But the story is so good, the situations so compelling, that I'm ok with that coincidence, and very much looking forward to next week and beyond on this riveting reboot.




And see also Dexter Season 6 Sneak Preview Review ... Dexter 6.4: Two Numbers and Two Killers Equals? ... Dexter 6.5 and 6.6: Decisive Sam ... Dexter 6.7: The State of Nebraska ... Dexter 6.8: Is Gellar Really Real? .... Dexter 6.9: And Gellar Is ... ... Dexter's Take on Videogames in 6.10 ...Dexter and Debra:  Dexter 6.11 ... Dexter Season 6 Finale: Through the Eyes of a Different Love



And see also
 Dexter Season 4: Sneak Preview Review ... The Family Man on Dexter 4.5 ...Dexter on the Couch in 4.6 ... Dexter 4.7: 'He Can't Kill Bambi' ... Dexter 4.8: Great Mistakes ...4.9: Trinity's Surprising Daughter ... 4.10: More than Trinity ... 4.11: The "Soulless, Anti-Family Schmuck" ... 4.12: Revenges and Recapitulations

And see also reviews of Season 3Season's Happy Endings? ... Double Surprise ... Psychotic Law vs. Sociopath Science ... The Bright, Elusive Butterfly of Dexter ... The True Nature of Miguel ...Si Se Puede on Dexter ... and Dexter 3: Sneak Preview Review




"The Soft of Your Eyes" on new Folk/Psychedelic Rock NTS Radio Playlist

 



 
 
Paul Levinson
 
 
 
Hey, it's been a while since I wrote to you about a song from Twice Upon A Rhyme, my 1972 album reissued on remastered vinyl by Whiplash/Sound of Salvation Records about a decade ago.   But I just found out that "The Soft of Your Eyes," the song I wrote for Tina back in the late 1960s, was added to Jocelyn Romo's folk/psychedelic rock Heaven and Earth playlist on NTS Radio where it's been getting tons of play, alongside songs by Gerry Rafferty and Don Everly. 


Meanwhile ... Peter Jackson's documentary The Beatles: Get Back is amazing and life-changing and I highly recommend it!  I review all three parts here (written reviews) and here (audio podcast reviews).



Songs from Welcome Up: Songs of Space and Time played this and last year on
  • Plastic Tales from the Marshmallow Dimention, WNYU-FM Radio
  • Dig Vinyl's Melodic Distraction playlist, American Dream with Yvonne
  • Howard Margolin's Destinies, 24 & 31 July, 7 Aug 2020, WUSB-FM Radio
  • Howard Margolin's 37th Anniversary Destinies, and 38th Anniversary Destinies, WUSB-FM Radio
  • Carl Thien's WZBC show (8 Dec 2020, and earlier this year)
  • Patrick Rands' Abstract Terrain show on WZBC-FM Radio in Boston
  • Kevin Anthony's Psychedelic Jukebox
  • Captain Phil's WUSB-FM show. 
  • Plus the following stations: Bellarmine Radio, Louisville, KY; KDWG Radio, Dillon, Montana; The End, Cleveland, OH; SYN Radio, Melbourne, Australia

You can get all the Welcome Up music, any time, here:
And here's Twice Upon a Rhyme:
Here's a one-hour virtual concert I did in April 2020 with songs from both albums at HELIOsphere: Beyond the Corona.   Here's a video of me singing "Alpha Centauri" at my virtual concert at Amazingcon in June 2020.  More video clips from Welcome Up here and here.

Welcome Up Reviews and Interviews:
  • Jon Pruett says in Ugly Things Magazine that Welcome Up is "eight slices of interstellar delight".
  • Joseph Neff says in The Vinyl District that Welcome Up "hits the ear as the best kind of long-delayed follow-up to a phenomenon of cultish proportions ... sounding like nothing else on the current scene."
  • Taro Miyasugi says Welcome Up is "a stunning folk pop album with gorgeous late 60s elements like vintage velveteen cloth..." 
  • Evan LeVine observes about Welcome Up that "any fan of Twice Upon A Rhyme will be overjoyed by it... As otherworldly, mystical and far-out as the subject matter may be, the songs burst with love and warmth and humanity." 
  • in-depth interview about Welcome Up in Klemen Breznikar's Psychedelic Baby Magazine 
  • audio Bear Tones podcast in which I talk about Welcome Up and Twice Upon A Rhyme.
  • I talk with John Anealio -- with whom I wrote "If I Traveled to the Past" and "Tau Ceti" -- about those songs on The Functional Nerds podcast.








Looking a bit into the future ... I may be doing another new album in 2022 ... stay tuned!
 


 
Music
 
Play SongSamantha (from Welcome Up)
Play SongIf I Traveled To The Past (from Welcome Up)
 
 

 
Press
 
"Welcome Up is ... eight slices of interstellar delight."— Jon Pruett, Ugly Things Magazine, Aug 15, 2020
 

 
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