crystalball

I’m halfway thru season 2 and loving it. While the intensity is still there (and heightened in many ways), I haven’t felt as stressed out as my initial reaction to every episode of season 1. I’m especially enjoying the soundtrack. Wonder if it’s a higher music budget or maybe it’s just that season 1 had so much screaming that I didn’t notice the tunes as much?

I’m not yet invested in the show premise and cast after seeing a couple of eps, but I think I’ll keep watching just to hear James McAvoy say “brrrrrridge” over and over with that delightful Scottish burr.

Can’t say I “enjoyed” this because it was a rough watch, but it was very well done. I binged it last night and had low grade nausea at the very start to a full on stomachache by the end. Haven’t felt like that watching a tv show since Chernobyl. The whole cast was wonderful. I was starting to wonder why they’d brought in Keeley Hawes for just a couple brief scenes and then wham! That hospital scene was brutal. Edited to add that I also really appreciated the touches of joy and hope (and great tunes!) in this to offset all the pain and loss, both fictional and very, very real.

I was hoping they’d skip this part of the books given all the (deserved, IMO) excess of rape as plot criticism, but since they didn’t, I’ll just say I really appreciated the distance the dissociation scene provided for the viewer, too. Though I watched the episode around 9am yesterday morning and that song is STILL firmly lodged in my brain. Thankfully, the visuals have not done the same.

I think Claire asked her to brew something else (comfrey?). It was a brownish powder in a jar. Marsali chose the hemlock root (or whatever it was) herself.

I am guessing she has some hearing loss that impacts her speech as she was wearing hearing aids. I can’t imagine how irritated those “lumps and bumps” get where they rub up against each other and her clothes. That batch around her bra strap looked extra miserable. So glad she’s able to stand the removal so well.

This series is as sappy as sappy can get, but I can’t stop watching.

It’s a Bank of America commercial. After seeing the first episode, I did a search for “Country Music Bank of America commercial” and there are a few articles about it. Brief individual profiles are on the BoA site.

I am a foul-weather fan when it comes to country music (have to be in the right, usually blue, mood to enjoy it - bring on the pain songs!) and I am still loving this series. Very interesting and entertaining, too. I’m on vacation tomorrow and intend to spend a whole lotta time binging the last four eps via Passport. The companion concert was really well done, both in planning and in the performances. Amid all that impressive talent, Vince Gill was the MVP for me. His performance of I Will Always Love You made me cry.

Was the shame bat wearing its tiny codpiece? Not my favorite episode, but I still truly laughed which is more than any other current comedy makes me do.

Don’t know how widespread the rules are in the US, but in IL, I was told I couldn’t cremate a deceased family member (her wishes) because she had undergone a couple rounds of radiation treatment for breast cancer about a decade prior to her passing. If it’s that dangerous on a scale of one, it’s hard to comprehend what it would be like with mass radiation casualties.

I must admit that I rolled my eyes when I saw the initial nudity warning. Thought “well, it is HBO, so they’ve gotta get the T&A in no matter how inappropriate it may be in this story.” After watching the ep, I owe the production (and HBO) an apology for thinking badly about something that has obviously been a total labor of love for the incredible creator, crew, and cast. It’s as fascinating as it is horrifying.

That was amazing! I was impressed with the Tilda reveal and then they just kept coming. I’m going to guess Pattinson for the Rob reference. I feel a little too twisted that my biggest laugh was the vampire baby showing its fangs.

I adore this ridiculous show so very much! I love it when it’s clear that everyone involved is having fun with their job, especially the prop and costume depts.

Between the Jones sisters episode and watching the Ricky Gervais show, After Life, my weekend of Netflix binging is sending me to work with red, swollen eyeballs tomorrow. So much emotion! While the Fab 5 seemed way too camera-conscious this time around, I enjoyed the season as a whole. I appreciate the positivity and compassion, even when they’re excessively mugging

The story hasn’t grabbed me, yet, but I’m in for the house and scenery porn.

For those who were wanting to catch a few familiar Outlander faces in Shetland, Netflix has seasons 1-3 streaming now. I catch myself gawking over the scenery so much that I miss half of what they’re saying.

I have been rather underwhelmed by figure skating so far and haven’t really been paying full attention... until I heard “John Zimmerman.” Definitely perked me up to get a glimpse of him but kinda sad that it was pretty much the highlight of the pairs competition for me.

Thank you for posting about this. I'd never heard of AcornTV, but I'm glad to know of it now (even if the last thing I need is another subscription). :) I'm working my way thru series 1 and agree that he's wonderful, as is the show. Really looking forward to seeing him in Outlander!

I just discovered Litographs (litographs.com), and I'm in love. They have tees, totes, scarves, and posters designed with text from famous books. Currently offer items with Outlander and Dragonfly in Amber - looks like the others are coming per some Facebook comments, too. Plus a whole lot of other great books. I am in no way affiliated - just excited to have found these and thinking of all the great gift giving options for all the bookworms in my life (and how to keep from going overboard for myself, too). Thought many here would appreciate as well. Happy shopping if you're one of them!

The minister's cat is a dreamy cat! Roger is my favorite character. This news has me very excited.

That movie is pretty much perfection for me. Never get tired of watching it and fall asleep to the soundtrack regularly with sweet dreams of DDL as Hawkeye in my head. Have you guys ever tried the Wilderness series by Sara Donati? Is a "sequel" to Last of the Mohicans and features Hawkeye and Cora's family. It's got some Outlander similarities and even features some character cameos. I didn't get past the third book, but may revisit some day. The biggest similarity is that they're LONG books, so could fill lots of waiting time. :)

I'm new to audiobooks, so this thread has been very helpful. Thank you, all! I 100% agree on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Right now, I'm listening to an entertaining Hamlet adaptation performed by Richard Armitage. Only issue is that his voice is so fantastic that I tend to get caught up in it without fully absorbing what he's saying. Oh, darn. Guess I'll rewind and listen again.

I loved everything about this show (especially the music - can't get the 1812 out of my head)! I binged it, so need to rewatch to appreciate it even more. Amazon is really in this game to win. I just wish more people were aware of what they have to offer. I was a Prime fan just for the shipping deal way back when. Now with all the book, music, tv, and movie offerings, I'm devoted. I'll keep trying to spread the word and cross my fingers that the award attention for the also awesome Transparent helps people realize what they're missing!

I was hoping for one final musical opening and that surpassed all expectations. So joyful and fun and just sentimental enough to get the waterworks going, but keep me smiling, too. I'm really going to miss this crazy show. "Transcendent batshittery" sums it up very, very well. I'm also really digging that song and am grateful to Craig for the introduction to Dead Man Fall. Loving watching them ride the wave of attention. It's very endearing.