Representation Matters

I read on a Lego blog (based in Australia) that Lego released a special Chinese New Year set, but only in the Asia-Pacific region. So none of us in the rest of the world can buy it, and when I checked the Lego website all they had was some stupid, ugly Blockhead thing. This is so unfair! Not just China, but many Asian countries celebrate Lunar New Year, because they are on the Lunar Calendar. This set could have sold to many immigrant communities in America, Europe, etc. but Lego completely missed this opportunity.

This reminds me of how Mattel made a big deal out of announcing 16 or so inspiring women Barbies for Women's Day, but only 3 of those dolls were ever offered for sale. What was the point of making all those diverse dolls like Chloe Kim, if you're not going to sell them to the Asian parents craving dolls to give to their daughters?

Anyway, on Black Lightning, they finally killed off Khalil after teasing several last-minute efforts to save him. I guess they finished their redemption arc on him, but I'm so relieved that the show's pace picked up with Henderson meeting Gambi, Grace reuniting with Annissa, and Tobias finally assembling a new team of henchmen. After his sister died and then Syonide died, all Tobias ever did was blame Khalil and terrorize him, expecting him to fill all roles including that of Lala who had also died. Everything slowed to a crawl, and the repetition of his bullying got old fast. Finally Tobias is moving forward with his evil plans and though he's still cruel, he's got more people now to spread his evil around. With Jennifer using her powers more, hopefully the show will be more watchable and less bleak. They've gotta find something to do with Lynn, though.

Shows

We're finally getting some forward movement on Supergirl's Red Daughter plot and Nia Nal becoming a hero. Thankfully the Children of Liberty had a small part of the plot, but it looks like we're back to the shitty Agent Liberty next episode. I'm so sick of him. Meanwhile, Black Lightning ended the runaway plot by having Jennifer return home and Khalil turn himself into police. Then Tobias's assassin captures him and Tobias rips out the cybernetic spine out of him. So brutal, but still, it makes we wonder why Tobias was always threatening to kill Khalil and hired Cutter if he wanted him still alive. I'm still sick of Tobias, but at least his new lackey Todd broke into the suitcase.

The Good Place's season finale finally brought back Simone, and I was so excited, but then Chidi wanted to do another mind-wipe. I hope next season won't be so much about love triangles. I want Jason/Janet and a real shot at Eleanor/Tahani even if it's just on the rebound, to cope with her grief without Chidi. I am glad that Judge Gen finally got to scold everybody and try to impose punishment on the outlaws. They were having consequence-free adventures for too long.

At the movies, I watched The Kid Who Would be King, an update on King Arthur starring teens and Patrick Stewart as Merlin some of the time. It was slow in some parts and incredibly earnest about its message of equality, honesty, and justice. Making a new Camelot by turning enemies into allies. Merlin also said that legends about chosen ones having special parents are not actually accurate, that Excalibur chose the person whose heart was worthy, not because of his royal bloodline. The younger actor who also played Merlin was pretty good, and his weird magical gestures seemed to make adults obey him instantly. There was some mumbo jumbo too about why all the adults disappeared at night each time Morgana's evil knights attacked. I liked how Stonehenge became a portal connected to other stone circles in Britain. The movie was often cute and funny.

More Victorian Detectives

After I finished reading Loveday Brooks, I read both the Hilda Wade and Dorcas Dene books. Though she's not available in ebooks and I had to buy a paper copy, Dorcas Dene was better by far. She is a former actress who marries an artist, but after he goes blind from an illness and cannot work any longer, Dorcas needs to support their family. She takes up detective work through a recommendation from a neighbor and friend; eventually she inherits the whole detective agency from him, becoming famous and working with police and private clients alike. Dorcas's adventures are narrated by Mr. Saxon, a playwright and former employer from Dorcas's days as an actress. He runs into her one day, is fascinated by her new career, and eventually becomes her informal "assistant" on cases. He'll drop by, or Dorcas will send for him, and he'll get to listen to or sometimes participate in a mystery with her. It's nice that he doesn't mind obeying her orders and that there's no love triangle with her husband Paul. They're just mature adults, all happy to be friends with each other with no jealousy or rivalry. I do wish sometimes that Saxon wouldn't blank out certain people's names, in typically Victorian style, because it makes some tales hard to follow. If you don't want to name Prince ___ of ____ and his former wife the Countess, then make up a fake name and fake country, please! Otherwise the tales are entertaining mysteries.

Hilda Wade on the other hand was a huge disappointment. I thought she might be fun, being a nurse, and that she'd be like Judith Lee, who had a regular job teaching deaf people but did her detection on the side. But no, Hilda Wade's book was maybe 40% mysteries then devolved into travel/adventure/revenge plot. It was a lame revenge plot to boot, not clever at all. SPOILERS below.

Moving On

Well the new year has begun, with the new Congress sworn in, and Pelosi back as Speaker of the House. I hope they can end the government shutdown soon, and get all their new legislative priorities accomplished, such as climate change, voting integrity, gun control, and the shitty child detention camps. So much to get done, along with all the investigations into the administration's endless corruption. Still waiting for Mueller's results too.

Meanwhile that Oscars controversy flared up again. I don't understand why Ellen is trying to get Kevin Hart reinstated. No more than I understand Elton John's misguided reaching out to Eminem years ago. Use your good karma for more important things. I don't see what's the point of even having a host at all, when they disappear very quickly from the show, and it's all just award presenters and montages and such. The whole award season is such a snooze.

Netflix still hasn't announced the release date of the final Arrested Development episodes. Why the fuck are they holding onto the back half of season 5 so long? Just get it over with for the few of us who still care about resolving the cliffhangers. Haven't we subscribers been loyal enough to get our niche viewing habits catered to? Just dump it already and let any controversy be buried among all the other shows/movies you got coming out. Mitch, if you're still doing last-minute tinkering to add Trump jokes or whatever, stop it! For fuck's sake, you owe us an ending after all these years.