TV Series

[Semi-Happy Partygoer]

“Flanderization” is the TVTropes term applying to much of this. That’s where a well-rounded character becomes more cartoonish and exaggerated as the series progresses, with a few quirks totally consuming their entire personality.

Some shows get lucky and can overall avoid this fate, but it tends to happen to at least one character on any long-runner. Looking back, I think “Friends” was a big offender on that front.

[Tawmis]

So some folks I DM for (D&D) told me this cartoon series was incredible. I trust their taste.
I have HBO MAX.

Loaded it up - almost did not make it past the first 15 minutes of the first episode because there is what I'd definitely call EXCESSIVE cussing.

But I stuck through it - and it makes sense why it's that way in the beginning.

The rest, does have the occasional cussing - but it's nowhere near as bad as the first 15 minutes of that episode.

And the writing has some VERY good punchy humor. VERY well written and fun.

[Tawmis]

Holy Crud - if you have Disney+ - the new animated series - Marvel's What If... started today. And it's amazing.
(If you're not familiar with the What If concept - it was a series of comics that told alternate story lines, like What if Hulk had killed Wolverine, What if the Avengers never formed, What if Captain America died in World War II, etc etc - and today's episode is amazing.

[Rath Darkblade]

Sheesh. And yet, when I apply the same principle to history -- with the emphasis on plausibility (as in, definitely not "What If the Aztecs had nukes", but plausible what ifs, like "What if the Lost Order hadn't been lost", or "What if Hernando Cortes WAS captured and sacrificed by the Aztecs" -- everyone says, "Geez, Rath! What a waste of time").

[Tawmis]

Sheesh. And yet, when I apply the same principle to history -- with the emphasis on plausibility (as in, definitely not "What If the Aztecs had nukes", but plausible what ifs, like "What if the Lost Order hadn't been lost", or "What if Hernando Cortes WAS captured and sacrificed by the Aztecs" -- everyone says, "Geez, Rath! What a waste of time").

Well, if you enjoy writing it - then do it, I say. You won't appease the masses.

[Rath Darkblade]

No problem. My audience isn't the masses, but people who are interested in history.

Take the Louisiana Purchase, for instance. We all know the story: Jefferson, and his Minister to France Robert R. Livingston, acquired Louisiana (among other places) from Napoleon, paying less than three cents an acre. At the time, he was criticised for not getting a better price. Nowadays, of course, we know it was a bargain.

But why was the Louisiana Purchase necessary? At the time, the place was controlled by Napoleon Bonaparte. He had dreams of creating a New World Empire, centred on the Caribbean sugar trade. But his failure to suppress a slave revolt in Saint-Domingue, led by by the talented and charismatic Toussaint Louverture, meant that he had to extricate himself from America at almost any price. An even greater enemy -- aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito -- was wreaking havoc on the French soldiers; about two-thirds of Napoleon's soldiers were falling victim to the diseases spread by the tiny mosquito.

Livingston was authorised to purchase only New Orleans, and to pay up to $2 million for it. Instead, he acquired the entire Louisiana Territory - doubling the size of the United States - for $15 million, without war or the loss of a single American life. The entire territory became today's Louisiana, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, the Dakotas, most of Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, and parts of Colorado, Minnesota and New Mexico.

Napoleon went on his way, and the rest is history. Saint-Domingue became Haiti, and Louisiana became a state (about 10 years later). All this time later, Louisiana (especially New Orleans) still share a bond with Haiti, especially their shared interest in voudun culture and Caribbean food.

And none of this could've happened without the tiny, disregarded mosquito on a remote island. History is fun!

Here's the "What If": what if Napoleon insisted on staying in America? What if he took it more seriously -- maybe transported more and more soldiers to suppress the Haitian revolt -- or went there personally? Could he have controlled it? Maybe he could -- and if so, there would not have been any Louisiana Purchase. Haiti would never have existed, and America would have stayed confined to the Eastern Seaboard. Imagine that!

[DeadPoolX]

But why was the Louisiana Purchase necessary?

Probably because Napoleon was intent on selling it and the US figured it'd be better to buy it themselves rather than let another foreign power purchase it and become a potential threat.

[Tawmis]

Finished VIKINGS VALHALLA Season 2... and damn.

So freaking good.

I was positive it wasn't going to hold up to the original VIKINGS series.

It's definitely right up there with it.

So very good. And so many great characters.

And some tears to be shed.

And surprises and twists and turns.

Sincerely loved it.

[DeadPoolX]

NOTE: When following the links, make sure to avoid spoilers by staying away from the episode descriptions.

Two shows Maia and I recently saw (on Amazon Prime) that we really, really enjoyed was The Peripheral and The English. The settings and subject matter couldn't be more different, but the characters, story, and overall writing are all great.

We're also excited to see a second season of The Legend of Vox Machina (also on Amazon Prime), but we're waiting until ALL the episodes have dropped. This is a show I'd imagine Tawmis would enjoy, given the setting and warped sense of humor.

[Rath Darkblade]

Just wondering: has anyone seen The Gilded Age? I've seen ads for it here and there, but nothing substantial. What did you think of it?

[Tawmis]

We're also excited to see a second season of The Legend of Vox Machina (also on Amazon Prime), but we're waiting until ALL the episodes have dropped. This is a show I'd imagine Tawmis would enjoy, given the setting and warped sense of humor.

Yes. I couldn't wait for all the episodes. I already watched Season 2. While Scalin (sp) and his... songs... would normally make him my favorite, it's difficult not to love Grog as much as I do. And have a man crush on Vax (or is it Vex? The brother of the twins)