madness, illness, grief, and the haunting of hill house

Beware of mild spoilers ...

I recently finished watching The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix. But it is still with me. It was at times an uncomfortable watch, but it also may be one of the best things I've seen in a long time. It can't really be called an adaptation of the immortal Shirley Jackson novel. That classic book could be considered more of a jumping-off point for this, an original, deeply-felt horror story.

The original novel, first published in 1959, concerns a group of disparate people who have come together to study a house with a bad, even evil reputation: the organizer of a paranormal study, Dr. Montague; Luke, a descendant of the original owners of the house; Theodora, who seems to have run out of fun things to do and is there on a lark or a dare; and the fragile Eleanor, who is ready for something, anything, to happen in her life. The house's only two caretakers, a cook and her husband, adamantly refuse to stay in the house after dark — if only the quartet paid closer attention to that fact ...

Jackson's prose is poetic, and helps to weave a spell around the characters and the reader as they follow Eleanor through the halls of Hill House.

No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.

The mini-series uses many of the same character names but makes them a family — a family held together, but also blown apart, by grief and madness. Interesting moments in the book are given a new twist on film.

Eleanor looked up, surprised; the little girl was sliding back in her chair, sullenly refusing her milk, while her father frowned and her brother giggled and her mother said calmly, "She wants her cup of stars."

Indeed yes, Eleanor thought; indeed, so do I; a cup of stars, of course. 

"Her little cup," the mother was explaining, smiling apologetically at the waitress, who was thunderstruck at the thought that the mill's good country milk was not rich enough for the little girl. "It has stars in the bottom, and she always drinks her milk from it at home. She calls it her cup of stars because she can see the stars while she drinks her milk." The waitress nodded, unconvinced, and the mother told the little girl, "You'll have your milk from your cup of stars tonight when we get home. But just for now, just to be a very good little girl, will you take a little milk from this glass?" 

Don't do it, Eleanor told the little girl; insist on your cup of stars; once they have trapped you into being like everyone else you will never see your cup of stars again; don't do it; and the little girl glanced at her, and smiled a little subtle, dimpling, wholly comprehending smile, and shook her head stubbornly at the glass. Brave girl, Eleanor thought; wise, brave girl.

No Human eye can isolate the unhappy coincidence of line and place which suggests evil in the face of a house, and yet somehow a maniac juxtaposition, a badly turned angle, some chance meeting of roof and sky, turned Hill House into a place of despair, more frightening because the face of Hill House seemed awake, with a watchfulness from the blank windows and a touch of glee in the eyebrow of a cornice.

Carla Gugino is amazing as Olivia

Timothy Hutton as Hugh Crain: family together, yet apart

The best horror is based on real-life fears. Slasher and vampire movies are tied to sex. Zombies and ghost stories to death. But The Haunting of Hill House mini-series takes a scary-enough-on-its-own ghost story and ups the ante by becoming a meditation on madness, illness, and grief.

Art provides one of the best outlets for grief and loss. When my father died in 1993 I was drawn to Sting's 1991 album, The Soul Cages, where many of the songs touched on what he had experienced after his own father died. Comedy movies that we had shared together while he was alive, like 1991's What About Bob, were also a balm. My mother died two and a half years ago and I am still struggling to come to terms with what that means and what it is like to live in a world with such a vast void — the invisible wall between life and death that my parents represented is now gone forever.

My mother had dementia, so it was a slow, heartbreaking decline to at first care for, and then helplessly witness. As I watched The Haunting of Hill House I recognized so many of my own feelings on display by the Crain family siblings — fear, grief, guilt, even loathing, of family members' conditions — possible madness, drug addiction, suicide. In this version Hugh and Olivia Crain (Henry Thomas and Carla Gugino) move their young family of seven into the dilapidated Hill House on the early 90s — with hopes to refurbish and flip it and make their own family fortune. But Hill House seems to already be inhabited — by ghosts — who menace the family — especially its youngest and most vulnerable inhabitants, the twins Luke and Nell. The story flashes forward to the present, and the estranged adult siblings and their father (Timothy Hutton) who are haunted by that summer and what happened there.

The Haunting of Hill House plays with truth and belief. If you look closely, there are things that live in the shadows — or are there? Are we watching the fractured break-down or haunting of Olivia? There are hints that her madness was already there — the way she doesn't seem to notice or react to her children being terrorized — but how one reads that behavior can depend on one's own perspective or reading of the story. Like a Choose You Own Adventure book, I think the filmmakers have left interpretation open-ended for the viewer. Shirley Jackson treated Eleanor in a similar fashion. Did she see what she thought she saw?

Shirley Jackson's book was also brilliantly and faithfully adapted in 1963 as The Haunting, starring Julie Harris as Eleanor

For me The Haunting of Hill House is a powerful meditation on illness and grief. And hope. Olivia's illness and death may have splintered, even destroyed her family for a time. But when they go back to revisit Hill House and the events that led to her death they are also able to close that chapter of their lives and move on. There is light to be found in the shadows of grief. There is life after someone's death.

All quotes from The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson, 1959.


This post also appears on Cannonball Read 10

favorite movie #63 - halloween edition: trilogy of terror

Favorite movies that have had an impact on me - #63 - Trilogy of Terror (1975) - Now a camp and cult classic, Trilogy of Terror was originally.a made-for-TV movie of the week. Karen Black stars in all three segments, in stories written by Richard Matheson. The film was directed by Dan Curtis of Dark Shadows fame.

In "Julie" Black plays a college professor who is roofied by an obsessed student (Robert Burton, her then-husband). He takes compromising photos of her and then blackmails her into getting 'involved." So, so creepy, but all is not as it seems ...

In "Millicent and Therese" Black plays both roles, Millicent, an outwardly repressed-looking spinster and Therese, her outgoing, glamorous sister, who loathe one another.

The first two installments are your typical Twilight Zone sort of fare, but the final story, "Amelia," is why the film has become so famous over the years. Amelia brings home a little statue of a Zuni Warrior, which is labeled "He Who Kills," as a birthday gift for her boyfriend. Maybe not the best idea? Black is the only actor in the piece, if you don't count the little statue. Amelia has an unpleasant, neurotic relationship with her mother, as evidenced by a phone call she makes as soon as she gets home. But Amelia's mother issues are the least of her problems. As she is preparing for her date, the Zuni warrior comes to life ...

Karen Black throws herself whole hog into this last segment, and is a wonder to behold. She was so great, in fact, that she felt the rest of her career suffered from this part, as she was constantly and consistently offered B-movie horror parts. It may have been a career-defining role for her, to her detriment, but to the audience's delight.

Amelia: [on the phone] Operator, get me the police! I DON'T KNOW where I'm located, just get me the police, there's a... there's a... just get me the police, PLEASE?

legion

So what am I going to watch until Legion comes back?

I just binge-watched the series on Hulu. Like so many of the new series popping up this days this show has comic book roots. But it's not a show about a guy or girl solving crimes while wearing a cool suit. It's not a show that's easy to describe.

The series opens with the main character, David Haller (Dan Stevens), living in a psychiatric hospital after a suicide attempt. But all is not as it seems. In fact, in Legion, nothing is like anything anyone has seen before. The show was created by Noah Hawley (Fargo). Viewers learn early on that Legion is part of the X-Men universe, and David and many of the characters he meets are mutants. The X-Men are always, at their heart, stories about outsiders, and David Haller is as outsider as they come. Diagnosed as schizophrenic when he was just a child, David's grasp on reality is tenuous at best. As the series progresses we learn a bit more about his childhood and his abilities, but it becomes clear that the show and David may just be scratching the surface of what he is and what he will become.

Telekinesis ...

Alternate reality ...

Don't mess with David

Legion is not just action-adventure, but it is also a love story. When David meets Syd at the institution (Rachel Keller) it is love at first sight for the pair, and the course of their romance runs smoothly - except for the part about Syd not wanting to be touched ...

"Holding hands"

Hawley has assembled a great cast for Legion. Dan Stevens takes on a very different role from his previous appearances in Downton Abbey or Beauty and the Beast. Other stand-out performances include Aubrey Plaza as David's pal Lenny, and David's Scooby gang: Bill Irwin, Jean Smart, and Jemaine Clement.

Jean Smart as Melanie Bird

David and Lenny

Legion sets itself in ... well, it's not exactly clear. The show has a late '60s, early '70s look, but so much of the show takes place in David's mind that it's hard to tell when we are exactly, or if he just really likes the look of films like A Clockwork Orange and classic television shows like The Avengers and The Prisoner. I know I like those shows, so Legion appeals to me aesthetically. I don't want to tell too much more about what happens in the show, as it's best experienced spoiler-free. Maybe a rewatch is in order until David and the gang return in February 2018 ...

Syd at Clockworks Psychiatric Hospital

big little lies

I just finished watching the HBO series Big Little Lies and, I'm sure, like many others, didn't want it to end. The slow, almost hypnotic pace of the direction by Jean-Marc Vallée in producer and writer David E. Kelley's adaptation of Liane Moriarty's book eased viewers into the complicated lives of the mothers of first graders in an affluent suburb of Monterey, California.

I quickly scooped up the book and was not disappointed by its southern Australian setting. The characters are the same: the charismatic, rapid-fire and funny Maddie, the outwardly serene but haunted Celeste, the tortured young mom Jane. These three women and their children and the men in their lives are all tangled together in a web of lies, both big and small. The story begins with a crime scene and the reader must shuffle through a series of entertaining, and at times, disturbing unreliable narrators until the truth is finally revealed.

Jane, Maddie, and Celeste share a high-end kaffee klatsch

Moriarty perfectly captures the Mommy Wars that some people indulge in these days and invites the reader inside the heads of the three main female characters. We see the men in their lives through theirs and other's eyes, but a little like the classic film The Women, the emphasis is squarely on the ladies. Themes of abuse, to children and adults, runs throughout. The setting may be beach/bucolic, but the passions run deep. Big Little Lies is a great read and I'd be willing to check out more by this author. There are rumors of a second series of the HBO show, too.

game of thrones ... well, we all saw that one coming, didn't we?

Lots o' spoilers ...

Whether you are a reader of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire books or not, you probably could have predicted the closing shot of "Mother's Mercy," the final episode of the fifth season of Game of Thrones. Jon Snow, lying on the ground, stabbed by his own Night's Watch men, bleeding out on the ground in the snow, left for dead. Or is he? It is the same quandary that Martin left his readers in, at the end of the super-long A Dance With Dragons. Almost everyone believes that Jon is not truly gone, but how he might come back is what is entertaining the fans until we find out for sure — and there are a number of possibilities. We have seen the dead rise on Game of Thrones — as White Walkers, wights, sightly altered versions of themselves (Beric Dondarrion and the Knights without banners), a certain stone-hearted lady in the books, and even as hideous science experiments (hello, Franken-Mountain). And the Red Woman did just conveniently make her way back to Castle Black ...

You've got friend in me - Jon and Sam

But before Jon got what has been foreshadowed all season — particularly by the outrageous amount of close-ups young Olly kept getting — there were a few other interesting things happening in Westeros:

Arya — In Braavos we found ourselves back with the beyond-loathsome Meryn Trant, who likes to hit little girls. C'mon Arya, finish him off. She did so, in a most brutal way. But everything one does in her world has consequences. And a girl who is still Arya Stark is not no one, as Jaqen was quick to remind her.

Jaime — Myrcella may be as clever as her uncle Tyrion, but unfortunately for her, Allaria's goodbye kiss for the girl was a poisoned one. A bit obvious, like everything connected to Dorne this season. Sorry Sand Snakes et al, but you just can't measure up to Oberyn, who is still truly missed.

Cersei finally confesses (sorta)

Tyrion — Dany and Drogon left the boys behind in Meereen to lick their wounds and scheme how to get her back. And then all my prayers were answered. Varys showed up (!) to help Tyrion rule Meereen while Dany is ... somewhere in the wilderness with a cranky and wounded dragon, and surrounded by hordes of Dothraki. But will they like her as much as Khal Drogo did?

Meereen: where the boys are

Cersei — She finally broke down and confessed (some of) her sins to the High Sparrow. He told her that she could see her son and return to the Red Keep — but of course there's a catch. Her atonement must consist of the ultimate walk of shame. Her long blond hair cut off, she marched, naked, through the city. I was impressed by how upright and dignified she held herself throughout the ordeal (character and actress), with filth and curses hurled at her with every step. She didn't break down until she reached the city walls, where Franken-Mountain, her new champion, was there to greet her.

Stannis — Already there were effects from last week's horrific burning of sweet and innocent Shireen. The snow had started to melt, but also ... Queen Selyse hanged herself, and half of Stannis's men had deserted, with the horses. Oh, and his #1 cheerleader, the Red Woman, had taken off, too. I guess not everyone was supportive of the whole God of Light burning little girls gambit. Stannis, being the hard-ass that he is, decided to proceed as planned. He took the rest of his army on the march to Winterfell. It was a slaughter, with Ramsay running rampant over Stannis's men. Before the twisted Ramsay could finish him off, however, Brienne was finally able to exact her revenge for Renly's murder. So long Baratheons. Except for Gendry (remember him?), who may still be rowing somewhere to safety. Back at Winterfell, Reek finally stepped up to protect Sansa. See ya, Myranda. Your weaselly little face will not be missed, except, maybe, by Ramsay. And we have a new Game of Thrones dream team, Sansa and Reek, on the run.

At The Wall, Sam asked Jon to let him go to Old Town to train to become a Maester, and to take Gilly and the baby with him. Jon didn't want to lose his only friend (and Sam is truly his only friend), but, being the inherently good guy that he is, he let him go. As Sam left the Red Woman came back, to Castle Black, alone. So much for Stannis. So who will Jon and the Night's Watch look to for assistance or support now? All a moot point, as Olly came to tell Jon there was news of his long-missing Uncle Benjen. And then the "Et tu, Caesar" scene happened. As each man stabbed him they all said, "For the Watch." I expected Olly to be the first strike, not the last. Not a shocking development for book readers, or, as I said before, anyone paying attention this season, but still ... hard to watch.

It's an ominous ending for the season, as our handsome hero — and Jon Snow is truly the closest character Game of Thrones has ever presented as a potential hero, apart from perhaps Daenerys — is left to die, at the hands of his own men, alone. And where was Ghost? But with all the shock of the new that has happened for loyal readers this season, this episode was also the closest to the books, showcasing some of the biggest scenes from A Dance of Dragons. And now ... we wait a year. But will the next season of Game of Thrones start before Martin finally finishes The Winds of Winter? That's anyone's guess.

game of thrones — this week, we had fire

Spoilers for the first four seasons abound ...

Still reeling from last week's icy White Walkers and their zombie minion attack on Jon Snow and the Wildlings, viewers must have settled in to watching this week's episode, "The Dance of Dragons," braced for anything to happen — and it did not disappoint. Game of Thrones has made a habit of serving up some of its most shocking and exciting developments in the penultimate episodes of its first four seasons: the beheading of Ned Stark, the Battle of Blackwater, The Red Wedding, the Battle at Castle Black, and now ... well, there were two major things that happened in this episode, both to two young women.

Let's start with the most difficult first. Stannis Baratheon has been a difficult character from the start. His self-righteousness has made him at times seem stiff and boring. His religious fanaticism, although extremely dangerous, has never felt completely genuine. He believes in the Red Woman and her fiery god, but, it has aways seemed, when it suits his ends. Stannis, perhaps more than anyone else playing the game, really wants to sit on that Iron Throne. Even if it means sacrificing everything dear to him. Even the only living creature this hard man has ever loved.

A lovely gift for a lovely girl

Poor, sweet, Shireen. We could tell ourselves that the show runners were only toying with us, as Stannis declared a few episodes back his deep love for his daughter, and how the Red Woman could never have her. Or how Ser Davos, about to be sent conveniently out of the way on a fruitless mission to The Wall, might be able to come back in time to save her. That the lovely carved stag toy that he gave her before he left was not a harbinger of doom.

I was hoping that her grayscale might somehow save her from the funeral pyre, that the stony disease might protect her from the flames. But her screams, thankfully offscreen, told another story. Stannis didn't only lose his daughter (and any slim fan support he may have gained this season), but he may have lost the war. The comparisons to Agamemnon and Iphigenia are surely no coincidence. The Red Woman may think the fires are on their side, but Stannis is pure ice. He could be well on his way to becoming a White Walker.

I don't think anyone would be too terribly upset if the loathsome Ramsay Bolton decided to flay Stannis and his followers. But I don't think that's how things will play out next week at Winterfell. Another nod to fire this week: Ramsay's clever assault on Stannis's camp of freezing and starving soldiers, burning what little supplies they had left; even the horses.

Drogon and Dany: reunited and it feels so good

The other big moment took place in Meereen, at the fighting pits, which were set up quite similarly to Roman gladiatorial combat. To distract the tense queen and amuse himself, Daario tried to needle Hizdahr, Daenerys's intended. The newly installed advisor, Tyrion, looked bored at his boasting and flirting. He wasn't too fond of the pompous Hizdahr, either, paying him the ultimate anti-compliment, "My father would have liked you." And then Jorah showed up. Dany and Tyrion looked scared, while the rich and poor in the audience seemed equally bloodthirsty watching Jorah battle for his life.

He came out on top, and it was clear that Dany still wasn't sure how she felt about that, until Jorah sent a spear hurtling over her head ... to kill an assassin. The Sons of the Harpy poured into the arena and stands and started massacring everyone in sight. Dany, how can you doubt him anymore? All hell broke loose and Jorah extended his hand to his queen. She took it, and like that, he was back in her good graces. Now he can die a happy man — if he can get her out of this. She didn't touch him anywhere near the grayscale patch on his arm, but the internet is already buzzing about that potential infection.

Meanwhile, Hizdhar was stabbed by one of the assassins, but is he killed? It has seemed, all along, that Hizdahr may be one of the Sons of the Harpy himself. But we can't worry about Meereen politics right now, as Dany, Tyrion, Missandei, Jorah, and Daario were completely outnumbered. Tyrion proved he wasn't just boasting about his fighting skills when he heroically dispatched an assassin about to kill Missandei. Our favorite folks in Meereen made their way down to the arena, looking for some way to escape, but they were soon surrounded and outnumbered by the masked killers. It looked like this might be the end. Dany took Missandei's hand and closed her eyes and ... Drogon showed up, breathing fire. He knew just who to eat and kill, taking out her enemies right and left. But the Mother of Dragons could see that he had also sustained some injuries — there is a tear in his wing and a spear in his side. She then did what viewers had been waiting and hoping for since the dragons were just little critters — she climbed on his back and they flew away, rescuing each other, with Tyrion and Co. and the rest of us looking on in awe.

Those two sequences would have been more than enough to make great episode, but there were a few other things that happened which will undoubtedly play into next week's finale. In Dorne, Jaime was told that he could bring Mrycella back to King's Landing — as long as he brings along her boyfriend, Prince Trystane and puts him on the King's Council. Prince Doran is playing the long game, and Myrcella better pack some warmer clothing, winter coming and all.

Arya was still in super-spy mode, selling oysters ... and death. But she got distracted from her main objective when she saw a face from the past — Ser Meryn Trant, the man who killed her friend and "dancing" instructor Sirio. And one of the names still on her death list. And if we didn't want her to kill him enough, we get to see that the creep is also a pedophile. But what will Jaqen say when she kills someone from her own list instead of the many-faced god's? A man will not be pleased. And a girl is likely to get into a lot of trouble.

Jon is back at the wall, Wildlings, giant Wun Wun, and all. And his men are not happy to see him. Especially Olly, who is getting a lot of pinch-faced close-ups this season. Can no one see what's coming? We're going from Greek tragedy to Roman here, people. Next week's episode is titled "Mother's Mercy." Cersei and Jon are due for some big scenes. Will Brienne finally see a light from Sansa or Reek in Winterfell's tower, or be able to make good on her vow to kill the man who killed her beloved Renly? Be careful what you wish for Stannis ...

game of thrones: don't it make my brown eyes blue

Game of Thrones has outdone itself with the attack on "Hardhome," the third to last episode of the fifth season. It was edge-of-your-seat, hold-your-breath action as a full-scale White Walker and wight attack hit the last stand of the Wildlings. A hard home, indeed. Adding to the excitement was the way the attack was filmed — the wights fighting was full of jerky motion and sped up, escalated the horror. Things only slowed down when some creepy wight children made an appearance ... truly eerie.

For a moment Game of Thrones teased us with a potential cool Wildling gal/new love interest (Birgitte Hjort Sorenson) for Jon Snow. I should have known when she put her two daughters in the boat and stayed behind ... Don't it make my brown eyes blue ...

The Army of the Dead is on the rise

Jon (Kit Harington) and Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) — Seeing is believing

The last few moments, with Jon just looking at the devastation, watching the army of the dead's numbers increasing before his eyes, was amazing. So much said with no dialogue. The young commander of the Night's Watch may have come north and talked well, and convincingly, of why the Wildlings needed to get out, and fast, but saying "Winter is Coming" and seeing it happen are two very different things.

There were other great moments, earlier in the episode. Cersei in jail, visited by Qyburn (but not Tommen!) and tormented by Septas. Arya continuing her magical assassin training. Sansa getting some important intel from Theon ("Not Theon, Reek!) Sam and Gilly and young Ollie, who no one is taking seriously enough. And of course, the new dream team, Tyrion and Daenerys. Dany, for the first time, in conversation with Tyrion, sounded like a real queen. Tyrion is magic. He also managed to save Jorah, but at what price?

As completely wonderful as it was to see Tyrion and Dany size each other up and both like what they see (and discussing Varys — please bring back our favorite eunuch!), the heart of the episode took place north of The Wall. Which may be a clue as to who is really equipped to be left standing when the battle of ice and fire is done. Plus, Giants! Start gathering up your dragon glass and Valyrian steel, kids, it's going to be a bumpy night.

One more note to consider for the future. About that Valyrian steel, or dragon steel. Like dragon glass (obsidian), it has the ability to kill White Walkers. Jon has Longclaw, a Valyrian steel sword given to him by former head of the Night's Watch, Jeor Mormont. Ned Stark had Ice, which was melted down and turned into two swords by Tywin Lannister — one, Oathkeeper, was given to his son Jaime, who then regifted it to Brienne, and the other, Widow's Wail, was given to his grandson Joffrey. Now that Joffrey is dead, does Tommen have it? There was also Littlefinger's Valyrian steel dagger, which was used in an assassination attempt on Bran Stark. Is there any other Valyrian steel floating around the Seven Kingdoms? Now would be a good time to find out ...

game of thrones ... powerful women

Many people disliked George R.R. Martin's fourth novel in his A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Feast for Crows, but I really liked it. The narrative voices were almost exclusively female, and it was very interesting to view the game of thrones through their eyes. Cersei Lannister had always been an interesting character, but in this book readers really got into her head — and what a jumbled mess of power hungry hubris it was.

In the series Game of Thrones this season Cersei has thought herself very clever, and positioned herself to run things in King's Landing while finding time to take down her supposed enemies the Tyrells — chiefly Margaery Tyrell, who she can't stand to think is not only usurping her position as a Queen, but replacing her in her son Tommen's affections. How Cersei doesn't see her own impending downfall is one of he most compelling parts of A Feast for Crows, and will surely play out as strongly in the show. Newbie religious fanatic Lancel Lannister, who has provided the High Sparrow with a list of Cersei's sins, is only the tip of her iceberg.

No matter her other failings, we do believe that Cersei loves her children.

But Cersei wasn't the only interesting woman in last night episode, "The Gift." Margaery, although incarcerated and in rags, was having none of Cersei's lip, while her grandmother Lady Olenna worked tirelessly to free her and her brother Loras — even if that meant striking another murderous deal with Littlefinger. And how fabulous was it to see Diana Rigg as Lady Olenna and Jonathan Pryce as the High Sparrow trading barbs and comparing ailments? Two masters at the top of their game, in character and as actors.

Sansa was still being brutalized by her husband Ramsay and trying by hook or by crook to get some help. Although things don't look too good for her at Winterfell at present, faithful Brienne is not too far away. And finally the Stark's "Winter is coming" mantra was more than just words — snow was falling fast and furiously from the Wall to Winterfell. Winter is here, Westeros, wake up!

Another strong woman, Gilly, proved to Sam she is a true friend and ... lover, in probably the episode's only sweet moment. In Dorne the sand snakes became (finally) interesting while they worked their wiles on their fellow prisoner Bronn. Hey, Game of Thrones, stop teasing us about killing off Bronn. Just don't do it.

In Meereen, Daenerys was being more girl than Queen, by taking advice from her overly ambitious lover Daario. Her desire later to run away from the fighting pits when things got a bit bloody was a little out of character for the Khaleesi. Is Daario, or being separated from her dragons and living in a giant pyramid making her soft? Her betrothed Hizdahr insisted she stay, as he keeps singing the tune that her acceptance of the fighting pits and customs of Meereen will finally help her make peace with the citizenry, both masters and former slaves. Whether we believe his motives or reasoning, it's good he got her to stay, as who does she finally get to meet? Why "the gift" of the episode's title, Tyrion Lannister, that's who. Let's just hope she doesn't kill off the giver, Jorah, or I'll have to sic her dragons on her.

Stannis Baratheon, my unexpected favorite character this season, was the only male who also had a real chance to shine in the episode. When the awful Red Woman seductively suggested he sacrifice his daughter Shireen to the cause of magic king-making because she had "king's blood," he kicked her to the curb. Stannis has shown before that he loves his daughter, but let's hope that he holds his resolve. A rift between him and the Red Woman would be interesting, too. She'd have to go searching for more king's blood elsewhere ...

It's hard to believe, but there are only three more episodes in this, the fifth season. The next few episode titles give us a clue where things might be going, Hardhome," and then "The Dance of Dragons," but we'll just have to wait and see where the final episode, as yet to be named takes us. With the show runners off book, it could be anywhere, and that's an exciting prospect.

game of thrones ... power couples

Last night's Game of Thrones episode,"Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken," deftly took us from Braavos to Dorne to Westeros and back again, without feeling rushed, but still packing in a lot of action. The episode featured strengths and weaknesses of its characters, both real and perceived.

Cersei fancies herself large and in charge in King's Landing, but she is setting herself up for a rude awakening. She is spending so much time scheming to destroy her perceived arch-enemy — Margaery Tyrell — that she has no idea that she could be next up for retribution. Her militant pet God Squad is not that at all. They may have arrested Margaery and her brother Loras, but things and sides can change quickly in Westeros. Anyone who crosses the formidable Lady Olenna deserves everything that is coming to her. And it was delightful once again to see Dame Diana Rigg in action as Margery's and Loras's no-nonsense grandma.

The Sand Snakes

Myrcella Baratheon and Trystane Martell

The sand snakes are still a huge bore and a completely unconvincing threat. Hopefully their speedy capture by their grandfather's guards while trying to kidnap Cersei's daughter will mean that we see less of them and more of Jaime and Bronn. The young Romeo and Juliet of Dorne, Trystane and Myrcella, were quite appealing, even in their quick intro.

Tyrion and Jorah were out of the Stone Men frying pan and into the captured slave fire, but they're still on the road to Meereen, with Tyrion as quippy as Bob Hope ever was. And with the wonderful actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as their captor, it looks to be a fun ride. In Braavos Arya is (maybe) learning a bit more about what goes on behind closed doors at the House of Black and White. It may be some of the creepiest stuff she's seen yet. And that's saying something.

But the big moments were at Winterfell. In typical Game of Thrones fashion, a wedding is far from a time for rejoicing. Sansa got married for the second time, but her groom Ramsay is no Tyrion. He wasted no time subjecting her to a brutal wedding night, insisting that Reek watch. I am continually amazed and impressed at the transformation of Theon/Reek, both in the books and on screen. Alfie Allen is wonderful in the part, and I am looking forward to seeing how his story plays out at Winterfell, and if he and Sansa might come to some sort of understanding. Although the episodes title, "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken," comes from the words of House Martell, who rule Dorne, I am hoping it is more reflective of how Sansa will deal with her latest tormentor, and rise to power from the ashes of Winterfell.

Sansa: not a good day for a white wedding

The show runners continue to tweak the book-to-show storyline this season, so far with positive results. The characters and story are so compelling that other exquisite details, like the fabulous costumes, or wonderful sets and lighting, could easily be overlooked. Paired-off characters, for better or worse, still seem to be paramount. With only four more shows to go this season, which odd couple is your favorite, and where do you think they will they land on the Game of Thrones game board?

Tyrion/Jorah
Brienne/Pod
Sansa/Littlefinger
Sansa/Ramsay
Sansa/Theon
Arya/Jaqen
Jaime/Bronn
Greyworm/Missandei
Trystane/Myrcella

game of thrones: a man must serve

So many interesting things happened last night on the third episode, "High Sparrow," of the fifth season of Game of Thrones. I didn't miss Daenerys and her crew one bit, either. There are a few spoilers included below for those who haven't read the books ...

As Jaqen H'ghar, Arya's teacher/mentor/Mr. Miyagi told her, "All men must serve." Arya is just beginning to get a glimpse of what life in the House of Black and White might be like. Her first task was to cast off all things Arya, which meant her clothes, her precious "Valar Morghulis" coin, and [gulp] Needle, her trusty sword that was a gift from half-brother Jon Snow. But she couldn't make herself do it, and kept just a little bit of Arya inside of her, and spared the rest of us the despair we would have felt if we watched Needle sink into the Braavos canal.

The first ever Westeros wedding without a casualty occurred in King's Landing, between Margery and young Tommen, who embraced his wedding night with typical teenage boy gusto. Margery wasted no time exercising her home court advantage by getting Tommen to consider that an overbearing mother might be better enjoyed from a distance - and Tommen quickly suggested that Cersei might be happier in Casterly Rock. Cersei tries to intimidate Margery, but she and her attendants were too busy discussing the indefatigable young king's prowess to let anything Cersei might try to insinuate bother them. But no matter. At least Cersei still has her creepy sidekick Qyburn and his Mountain-like Frankenstein experiment, and a new friend and associate in the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce).

Up at The Wall Jon looked very comfortable in his new role as Lord Commander. He turned down Stannis's offer of becoming Lord of the North and proceeded to exercise his power by executing his first traitor, the loathsome Janos Slynt, just like his dear old dad Ned Stark would have done, with a sword of Valerian steel. Stannous looked on approvingly from the battlements. Jon may not have accepted his offer, but the two do seem to have a grudging respect for one another and may find themselves some sort of allies in the future.

For once I'm actually interested in what Littlefinger has to say.

The show took a real turn from the books by having Littlefinger offer Sansa in marriage to the creepy and sadistic Ramsay Bolton. This is a brilliant change and streamlining of the books clunky "fake Arya" storyline. I am looking forward to seeing how this will play out. And for the first time ever I wonder if I have caught a glimpse of Littlefinger's true end game. It as been assumed all along that Catelyn Stark was his true love and he lusts for Sansa as she reminds him of his lost love. But maybe he actually hates Cat and all of her family. He must know how horrible Ramsay is. And an alliance with the Bolton;s can't really mean that much to him politically - in fact it puts him in a more precarious position. We'll see ...

Brienne and Pod were lovely together and in another improvement on the book's storyline, Brienne showed that she is more aware of the behavior of the people around her than we might have thought. She illustrated this by telling a touching story of how she first met Renly Baratheon. Please keep giving us moments and stories like this, please.

game of thrones: it's a black and white world

I have not succumbed to the temptation of watching any of the leaked episodes of Game of Thrones. I prefer the anticipation of waiting until Sunday night. Maybe because I am caught up on George R.R. matins books I feel that I can relax a little. At least I thought so, but the second episode of the fifth season,"The House of Black and White," went off in a few new directions, so very different from the books, that I am starting to feel like one of "The Unsullied" (non book readers. But not to worry, there were enough nods to Martin's prose to keep everyone, readers and watchers alike, happy.

Arya outside The House of Black and White

Arya (Maisie Williams) arrived in Braavos, and we saw the first real, child-like smile we have seen from her in a long time as she took in the life and bustle of the city, the water, the warmth. So different from her childhood home of Winterfell and the hell she has been going through for the past few years. But don't think that she has lost her edge or determination. At first rebuffed at the black and white door outside of the The House of Black and White she soon showed her mettle against a group of toughs in the city that threatened to take her sword Needle. As she made her way back to the black and white door she finally was able to reunite with the enigmatic, shape-shifting Jaqen H'ghar. I don't know about anyone else, but I was thrilled to see the original actor for the role, Tom Wlaschiha, show his face again.

Up at The Wall, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) seemed to have more options than ever before in his young life. Stannis offered to give him his birthright — he would no longer be The Bastard of Winterfell, but Jon Stark, something he had wanted all his life from his father, and become the Lord of Winterfell — if Jon would leave the Night's Watch and fight for him. The Night's Watch had something else in mind. They held an election for a new leader, and after a heartfelt nomination speech from his best buddy Sam, Jon found himself the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. His smile at hearing the news was another welcome sight.

And then the show started to spin off in its own direction. One of this season's several road-trip dream teams, Brienne and Pod, ran across Littlefinger and Sansa in a tavern, with disastrous results. Sansa rejected Brienne's offer of service and protection and Littlefinger, per usual, instructed his men to kill the pair. After a quite exciting chase and rescue (Brienne rescuing Pod, of course) they decided to follow Sansa at a discreet distance, hoping that her rejection was out of fear. I worry for these two, as their story is going off into unknown territory. But I must admit I also find the turn of events intriguing.

Drogon is back!

In Meereen, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) was struggling more than ever to lead her people. First she insisted that an assassin of one of her Unsullied be given a fair trial. But when that man was killed by one of her men she ordered his public execution. This didn't go over at all well with the people of Meereen who went from calling her Mhysa (Mother) to Hissssss. Probably not a term of endearment. Dany's only bright spot was a quick visit from her oldest boy, her dragon Drogon.

Other nice touches: The princess Shireen teaching Gilly to read, Cersei getting a verbal smackdown from her Uncle Kevan — the first of which I'm sure there will be many this season, as she tries to consolidate her power base in King's Landing. We also caught a glimpse of another odd couple dream team, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and Varys, on their way to Dany and Meereen. Hopefully they can talk some sense into the girl queen and help cut out some of her endless political struggles that padded out Martin's last few books. And finally, Jaime is teaming up with Tyrion's former sellsword Bronn to go rescue his daughter, the Princess Myrcella from Dorne and the Sand Snakes. Everyone seems to be pairing up, to entertaining effect, in one way or another in the Seven Kingdoms.

the best show you're (probably) not watching

The Middle has been on television since 2009, but I just discovered it with my daughter this past Christmas, when she binge-watched a ton of episodes. At first I only partly paid attention to it, as a sort of background noise, hearing her coo over her favorite character, Brick. But I soon got sucked in, and found myself watching a series of episodes with her, as the quirky working-class Heck family from fictional Orson, Indiana began to ring some suburban growing-up bells for me.

The show is narrated by the mom, Frances "Frankie" Heck, played by Patricia Heaton, of Everybody Loves Raymond fame. I never much liked Raymond, despite its stellar cast (Ray Romano, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, Brad Garrett), and really didn't like Heaton's character of Debra, Ray's wife. Most of the time she just seemed strident and pissed off at him. I didn't buy their relationship. Frankie on The Middle, however, is a completely different kind of TV mom.

Frequently frazzled and even obnoxious, but always sympathetic, her rapport with her TV spouse Mike (Neil Flynn) and kids Axl (Charlie McDermott), Sue (Eden Sher), and Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is completely believable and a hoot to watch. I have not only had to re-assess my former ideas of Heaton as an actress, but on many times connected with her portrayal of a woman constantly on the edge - emotionally and financially. The Hecks are far from trying to have it all. They can barely make ends meet. Although many of the situations are exaggerated and even absurd, the all-too-real depiction of Americans struggling to hold home and hearth together can be attributed to show-runners Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline, whose previous projects include Roseanne and Murphy Brown.

The show also has some fabulous guest stars and recurring characters (and this is only scratching the surface):

Bob (Chris Kattan) is Frankie's best friend at her Ehlert Motors job in the first two seasons of the show. Their awful boss is Don Ehlert (Brian Doyle-Murray). After Ehlers fires her to cut costs Frankie has a hard time getting another steady job until Seaon 4, when she is hired as a dental hygienist by Dr. Ted Goodwin (Jack McBrayer).

Mike's dad "Big Mike" Heck Sr. (John Cullum) is an ornery hoarder who doesn't have that much to do with his son's family. Mike's younger brother Rusty (Norm Macdonald) is goofy and a little bit helpless, and lives at various times with his father, in a tent, and in his car.

Frankie's parents are Pat (Marsha Mason) and Tag Spence (Jerry Van Dyke), a bickering but loving duo who appear in most of the holiday-themed episodes.

Sue is very impressed by youth minister  Reverend Timothy "Tim-Tom" Thomas (Paul Hipp). The family also receives some (hilarious) counseling from Keegan-Michael Key, as Reverend Deveaux.

Having the time of her life is Brooke Shields as Rita Glossner, the Heck's scariest neighbor.

Have I intrigued you enough to take a look? If you need any further nudge in that direction, consider the character of the Heck's middle child Sue. The writing of the character and acting by Eden Sher manages to tap into the inner nerd of every tween and teen girl. Sue is beyond enthusiastic and desperate to join in to various school, sports, and club activities - and chronically unsuited for all of them. From her perpetual braces to her long, lifeless hair, she is an illustration of the awkwardness that is youth. While her high school athlete, constantly in his boxers older brother Axl, and strange little brother Brick may get most of the attention for their respective accomplishments and odd behavioral quirks, it is Sue who seems to epitomize a family that may be out of their league and underachieving, but is always funny and relatable.

it's back ... game of thrones

Even though I've read all the books up to this point, and considered myself fairly up to date on the Game of Thrones universe, I felt a bit out to sea after the season five premiere, "The Wars to Come," last night. The scheming of Varys and Littlefinger and all the rest of the population of the Seven Kingdoms was off and running, and it was an unsettling yet exciting feeling to realize I had no idea where they were going next.

It was great to see Tyrion (Peter Dinklage — Dinkles is my jam!) again. And even greater was the hint that his story was being streamlined, and that some pretty annoying characters from George R. R. Martin's A Dance with Dragons might not be making an appearance. Dany (Emilia Clarke) was back and living large as the queen of Meereen, but seemed not to be in control of her dragons. She has two in chains beneath an enormous pyramid, while the largest, Drogon, has gone missing. As her current boy toy and chief warrior Daario reminded her — a dragon queen with no dragons is not a queen.

Young Cersei and friend — always a mean girl

The episode opened with the first-ever flashback, or maybe more accurately, back story scene, of a young Cersei and a friend off to see a local witch. Cersei was told a prophecy which still haunts her to this day - She will not marry a prince but a king, and be queen, but another, younger, more beautiful one will take all she holds dear. But that's not all. That her king will have 20 children, but she will have only three, which makes no sense to young Cersei. And, just wait ... and that of her children, "Gold will be their crowns, gold their shrouds." The present day grown woman Cersei assumes that the younger, prettier schemer is perpetual almost-queen Margaery Tyrell, and fears what she will do to her youngest boy, King Tommen, but my money is on Daenerys.

The showstopper of the first episode however, took place up at The Wall, where Jon Snow (Kit Harington) tried to save his former enemy Mance Rayder (Ciaran Hinds) from a fiery end. The two men share a deep respect for each other, even when they rarely see eye-to-eye. The unyielding "true king" of Westeros, Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) and his witchy woman Melisandre (Carice van Houten), are as creepy and inflammatory as ever, and I felt for Jon Snow trying to make sense of their manipulations.

Varys and Tyrion — on the road again

The Game of Thrones fifth season is off to a good start. I'm looking forward to what show-runners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss have in store for us next, especially the new road trip odd couple duo of Varys and Tyrion. They just may surprise me.

this is what happens when you binge-watch

I've been re-watching Game of Thrones, building up to the new season starting again on Sunday. The show is so intricate. Even when you know what's coming, there is so much going on, with so many characters, that some scenes seemed fresh, still surprised me.

Another funny thing happened while binge-watching. Certain minor characters that maybe I didn't pay as much attention to before stood out the second time around.

........................

Sir Loras (Finn Jones) — Everyone, except Sansa, is so mean to The Knight of Flowers.

Loras, "My father once told me... " 

Cersei, "Nobody cares what your father once told you."

But every once in a while he gets a chance to zing those snooty Lannisters of Kings Landing. It's hard to take sometimes, how snide everyone can be about Loras's sexual orientation. Even his grandmother (Diana Rigg) calls him a sword swallower. As much as some of the character's dialogue about him is offensive, Loras and Renly may be one of the few couples on the show that truly loved each other, and Loras's grief is genuine and heartfelt in its portrayal.

Jaime, "If you were to marry Cersei, she'd murder you in your sleep. If you somehow managed to put a child in her first, she'd murder him, too, long before he drew his first breath. Luckily for you, none of this will happen because you'll never marry her." 

Loras, "And neither will you."

........................

Ros (Esmé Bianco) — She is a prostitute with brains as well as beauty, who runs up against most of the male characters in the show — Tyrion, Theon, Littlefinger, and Joffrey — with dangerous results. She is also a controversial figure, a creation solely of the show, who appeared many times in "sex-plication" scenes - dialogue heavy scenes which helped move the plot along, aided by the scantily clad or completely nude Ros and her companions. She was also the recipient of violence, which raised the hackles of many. As disturbing as some of these scenes may be to some, it is undeniable that brutality exists in the world of Game of Thrones and in our own world as well.

........................

Theon (Alfie Allen) — The always out-of-his-league Theon is not exactly a minor character. He also has always been far from one of my favorites, in either the books or show ... except ... watching him in his transformation from Theon to Reek this time I could really see both the actor's and character's progression. There were seeds sewn in even the first episodes of the series of Theon's fate.

Such great storytelling — can't wait for Sunday.

lovejoy, series 4: up to his old tricks

Lovejoy (Ian McShane) has always walked a fine line between legitimate and slightly shady deals - such seems to be the nature of the antiques trade. But in Lovejoy, Series 4, the always charming rogue has crossed over to out-and-out swindling - for a good cause, naturally - the saving of his own skin. Lovejoy is a "divvie," someone who has the gift of being able to sniff out a real antique. This feature has both helped and hindered Lovejoy in his life, loves, and business.

Lovejoy Antiques, Inc.: L-R: Tinker (Dudley Sutton), Lady Jane Felsham (Phyllis Logan), Eric (Chris Jury), and Lovejoy (Ian McShane).

As the series opens, Lovejoy Antiques, Inc. has been seized by the authorities - and Lovejoy is not only out of a home, but his livelihood. He starts scrambling immediately, setting up some deals with his friends and sidekicks, Eric (Chris Jury) and Tinker (Dudley Sutton), while trying to keep some of the more gruesome details hidden from Lady Jane Felsham (Phyllis Logan), who will most definitely not approve. Lovejoy and Lady Jane have always had an on-again, off-again flirtation that has sometimes crossed over to romance, but this season sees the Lady's affections sorely tested. Viewers will recognize Phyllis Logan as Downton Abbey's Mrs. Hughes, who has finally found love on that program with the redoubtable butler Mr. Carson. But will her character Lady Jane fare as well with the rascally Lovejoy?

Read the full review on Cinema Sentries ...

lovejoy is looking for love in series 3 ...

The the second season of Lovejoy, the last time we saw the irascible but ever-charming antiques dealer played by Ian McShane, he was swindling (for a good cause, naturally) crooked antiques dealer Harry Catapodis (Brian Blessed) in order to help out a Japanese businessman (Mako) and a lovely widow Victoria (Joanna Lumley) who had both been cheated by Harry.

Lovejoy Series 3, recently released on DVD by Acorn Media, picks up a year later, after Lovejoy has been taking a holiday in Spain, where he has enjoyed (and spent) all the proceeds from that last big deal. He returns home to take up right where he left off, and his friends and partners, Eric (Chris Jury), Tinker (Dudley Sutton), and Lady Jane Felsham (Phyllis Logan, who many will recognize as Downton Abbey's Mrs. Hughes), are mostly glad to see him, even if they put off a bit by his new warmer climes-inspired wardrobe of linen suits and bright tee shirts. It doesn't take long for Lovejoy to don his familiar jeans and leather jacket, and also to kick-start his flirtation with Victoria into a full-fledged romance. Lady Jane seems a bit put off by the whole thing — will she and Lovejoy ever declare their feelings that always seem to be simmering below the surface?

Lovejoy and Lady Jane (Ian McShane and Phyllis Logan)

You can read my complete review on Cinema Sentries ...

throwback thursday: star trek

I have been enjoying following bird of the galaxy's flickr feed, which highlights some great stills and behind-the-scenes images from the original Star Trek series.

Alternate-universe Spock

Who knew Kirk had rhythm?

She almost could be checking her iPhone

Tribbles!