They should join Agent Woo and Darcy haha!

Yep, once you take into account both the prequels and the sequels, the overriding theme of Star Wars is failure. The failure of qui gon, Ben, Yoda, Anakin, the Jedi as a whole, all the heroes of the original trilogy, the old and new republic, and the bad guys too. 

Yes, not only putting him down, but equating getting into meth production/dealing as an opportunity to do “something special.”  I think it’s clear in that scene Jesse is a bit shocked at the absurdity of that notion.

And he's Echo's dad! What a world! :)

Totally the same reaction as a kid and result. It really made me think about the nature of a happy ending, and why Sam would choose to do what he did. 

12 years later, and this comment is exactly it. Meadow chose to do this herself after seeing Carm and Janice have it out, knowing that she’s gotten away basically scot-free. Tony is surprised, and I would also guess proud (and maybe confused) of Meadow’s actions as this act of penance/self-imposed justice is…

12 years later (and watching the series dornthr 3rd time), that has to be one of the funniest lines in any tv series. I’m surprised Emily didn’t quote it!

The best analogy I can see for these is that they’re like collectible cards, and Trek has never shied away from merchandising and collectibles. If the NFT market behaves like those of physical collectibles, then most will end up worthless and a few will hold or gain in value.

I took it as an insightful metaphor, but it's possible that Smith and Washington do not!

“It’s worth noting MRAsians’ grand calculus of determining oppression vs. privilege within their communities at no point considers the possibility that MRAsians are rejected by women not because of their racial identities, but their insufferable whining and abusive behaviors.”

It’s not Zack, it’s that the show is horrifically badly written. Whereas TOS/TNG/DS9 may have had individually terrible episodes, they were not anywhere near as consistently stupid and over-dramatic as Disco.  My only criticism of Zack is that his grading and attitude were frankly too positive, more than Disco…

Appreciating this reply 10 years later, post-No Way Home! Man crush reactivated haha!

Damn, a B from Dowd! You know this shit is solid! Or he’s getting soft in his old age ;P

Yeah agreed, I just don’t get people like him and Rowling. You’re old, you’re uncomfortable with trans stuff, it’s weird to you, fine, but why the obsession, why do you have to triple down on it? My guess is they’re old, bored and rich, and thinking about this stuff gives them something to do that feels meaningful,…

Thats awesome! My son is still a little too young for TNG, but I’m hoping Prodigy is good and we can watch it together, and eventually graduate to TNG and DS9. Good move re: starting at season 3 as well haha

Totally agreed with your assessment of Orville and Lower Decks! Easily the best, most intelligent Trek coming out right now.

Excellent essay, about not just art criticism but the cultural impact of post-modernism generally. It shouldn't be controversial to acknowledge that some art is aiming to be "deeper" or more profound than others. There can be excellent "shallow" works and terrible deep ones.

I had the exact same reaction to her apologizing after trying to shoot him and getting shot. I said to my wife, “it would be much more realistic for her last words to be ‘fuck you’!”

Yep, endings matter. Without a meaningful ending (and logical motivations and plot developments) you don’t have a story, just titillation.  See Lost and, oh, everything Abrams and his gang has ever done.

Haha 100% agreed!  Started feeling that way with WandaVision