The thing that struck me about that race sequence was the background.  Yes, the shots were tight for the majority, but in the moments when the realization of what everyone was witnessing occurred, those who knew what they witnessed were remarkably framed by those in the backshot masses who knew nothing.

Williams score along with the Jedi/Maul fight are both fantastic.  I didn't care for the pod race sequence, but the Big Battle remains a high point.

Exactly.  Off the top of my head, I think the numbers are something like 30,000 thoroughbreds are born in the US each year of which 20,000 become race horses and only 20 of those get to run in the Kentucky Derby.

neither.

It makes headlines when a horse is sold for big money.  Heck, in this show, Bernstein payed $2mil for the horse with the plain head from Ireland that Escalante is training for Gus. But the reality is that most horses are in the 1-5k range at time of purchase.  Figure in cost of care and training and after a couple…

It's not particularly revelatory, but this episode helped to clarify the theme of power over money.  On its surface, the game of racing (or poker) seems to be all about the money - you make a bet, you win (or lose) some cash and that's it.

I believe the title for the HBO show about the Death of America was called "Entourage".

The huge breadcrumbs strewn about regarding Saul as an informant is an entirely unsubtle way of getting the audience to bump into the real point of the show which is that if we all give in to our paranoia, then everybody looks like a terrorist. Subsequently, as a free society, everybody can be if they want.

They put people in handcuffs, You put people in a flamingo.

The largest issue I had with the program was the misleading notion that the trainer, Lukas, is such a savant when it comes to identifying horse potential that he took Charismatic from a 65 claiming victory and put him in the G1 Santa Anita Derby.  Months passed between those occurences, not to mention a number of…

Helen Mirren is not hot.

As good as tv gets
Loved Delmon's conversation with his bald girlfriend in New York. Dude just wanted to leave his records someplace and all of a sudden it was 'Are You Ready to Move in with me?" territory. Poor guy was just looking for some lagniappe.

Building on the notion of expats becoming pats
Mac's speech about "there's something about New Orleans" was the theme of this episode. Plus, it got Big Chief a quick blowjob during the break.

That
was one of the best hours of television I've seen in a very, very long time.

People don't get what they deserve
But since this show is a fictional dramatic arc, it would be nice if Bill and his brood actually did.

…
Stereophonics, Blue Man Group Music, Kundun and Horse Racing.

Best Lines for Use in Everyday Conversation
Ep. 27

Best Lines for use in Everyday Conversation
Episode 25:

As to Episode 19
I'm compelled to disagree with the conclusion. It's not about protecting the camp and its possibilities from the acts of Wolcott/Hearst. There are no citizens willfully sacrificing their self-interests or abandoning justice for the greater good. Utter has a profitable mail line. Bullock has a…

Best Lines for Use in Everyday Conversation
Ep. 17