Is the World Marching to the Same Tune Again?
We may be about to repeat history in ways that will not be obvious tomorrow, next week, or even next year. This post discusses politics and history; if you prefer to avoid that, stop reading here.
📺 This TV Week’s Watchlist
From Paramount+:
🎬 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Season 3, Episodes 3–5 ⭐⭐⭐½ No spoilers!
Continues to be a solid contender and, for me, the best of the Star Trek series on Paramount+ in this “new era.” 🎬
From Prime Video:
🎬 On Call – Season 1, Episodes 1–8 ⭐⭐⭐ Spoilers
This one was okay. I didn’t expect it to be renewed. I watched the whole season; it had moments where it could have been brilliant, but overall it was just okay. I mostly had it on in the background, though a couple of episodes were really good. 🎬
📺This TV Week’s Watchlist
From Paramount+:
🎬 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Season 3, Episodes 1–2 ⭐⭐⭐½ No spoilers!
I liked it overall, but I wasn’t thrilled that Season 2 ended on a two-part episode. 🎬
🎬 Tracker – Season 1, Episode 12 ⭐⭐⭐½ No spoilers!
This continues to be a solid series with a compelling storyline. Justin does a great job, along with his co-stars. 🎬
From Amazon Prime:
🎬 The Chosen – Season 5, Episodes 6–8 (Season Finale) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “No spoilers” doesn’t quite apply here—it’s based on the Bible.
This show continues to amaze me. The acting is phenomenal, and what a way to end the season. I can’t wait for the next—but I’m glad I already know how it ends. 🎬
📺 This TV Week’s Watchlist
From Paramount+:
🎬 Matlock – Season 1, Episodes 11–19 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ No spoilers!
I just finished the first season. What a different take on the original Matlock. Overall, I liked it and was really pleased that CBS decided to renew it for a second season.
You might remember I canceled my subscription to this service. Well, that’s true, but they offered me two months for 99 cents to come back. I figured, why not take Paramount+ up on the deal and finish the seasons I didn’t get to complete, including this show and the one below. 🎬
🎬 Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage – Season 1, Episodes 14–22 ⭐⭐⭐ No spoilers!
I finished the first season of this one too. I liked it. It fits nicely into the Big Bang Theory universe and is pretty enjoyable. I’m glad it got picked up for a second season as well. Nothing much more to say. It’s just a good show when you want something light and funny. 🎬
Balancing Simplicity and Style Online
I recently made a few updates to the theme on my website at michaelmitchell.blog, which is hosted through Write.as. The goal was to modernize its look and feel while also complementing my micro.blog site.
Feel free to drop by and take a look. I’m really happy with how it turned out. If you happen to spot any bugs or quirks, just drop me a line. Thanks!
Happy 249th Birthday to the United States of America 🇺🇸
Today, we celebrate the 249th birthday of the United States — my home country and my birth nation. Nearly two and a half centuries have passed since our founding, and in that time, we’ve experienced triumphs and trials, unity and division, progress and setbacks.
Some might say we’re not in a good place right now. And yes, it’s true — we are in a turbulent chapter. But I take comfort in history. Nations go through cycles. England, France, and the rest of Europe have weathered centuries of political and social upheaval. They have survived monarchies, revolutions, world wars, and more — and they endure. So will we.
Europe was home to many of history’s greatest empires: the Greeks, the Romans, and the vast British Empire — the largest the world has ever known. In modern times, however, the American nation was instrumental in bringing an end to both World Wars. That matters. We have never been perfect, but we have often stood firm in moments when history demanded courage, sacrifice, and leadership.
📺 This TV Week’s Watchlist:
From Peacock:
- 🎬 The Day of the Jackal – Season 1, Episodes 4–10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ No spoilers!
I finished the first season, and all I have to say is: Bravo. There was action, mystery, intrigue—and more action. Some parts felt wildly exaggerated; I can’t imagine all of it happening outside the realm of TV drama. But other parts? Absolutely plausible—though more likely orchestrated by nation-states than rogue, non-state actors.
I hope they make a second season—there's definitely room for it. Maybe even a third. But no more than that.
As I said in a previous post, when it comes to TV, the British really know what they’re doing. 🎬
From Prime Video:
- 🎬 The Chosen – Season 5, Episodes 2–5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “No spoilers” doesn’t quite apply here—it’s based on the Bible.
Not much to say other than: Wow. It’s been a great season so far—and with such incredible source material, how could it not be? 😊 Fantastic true story, outstanding acting. Best series EVER. 🎬
#TV #Entertainment #Peacock #PrimeVideo
📺 This TV Week’s Watchlist:
From Peacock:
- 🎬 The Day of the Jackal – Season 1, Episodes 1–3 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
No spoilers!
I’ve been under the weather this week—caught a summer cold and wrote about it over at mitchelltribe.com. Since I’ve been off work since Wednesday and mostly napping, I dove into a couple of series. This one’s on Peacock, and since I’m canceling the service in July, I’ve got to finish it before then.
That said—this show is really good. I’ve watched the first three episodes, and I have to say: the English seriously know how to make television. Right now, it's better than 98% of what’s coming out of the U.S.—with one exception I'll get to next. Eddie Redmayne is excellent in this, and all the characters are genuinely interesting. 🎬
From Prime Video:
- 🎬 The Chosen – Season 5, Episode 1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“No spoilers” doesn’t quite apply here—after all, it's based on the Bible.
This season is diving into what I’d call fulfillment, sacrifice, and redemption. The casting is spot-on, and while I know not every detail is historically or biblically precise, the spirit and themes are respectfully portrayed. The creators, actors, and entire team are doing an outstanding job, and this is currently my favorite show. I’m glad they’re aiming for seven seasons—I’m especially curious how they’ll depict their take on Revelations. 🎬
#TV #Entertainment #Peacock #PrimeVideo
Of Kings, Constitutions, and Parades
Yesterday was a normal weekend day for me. I relaxed and played one of my favorite PC games. I also spent some time troubleshooting my Python weather bot — a little project I built just to post local weather updates from my house. But this post isn’t really about that.
While relaxing, I ended up watching and reading about a few things: the No Kings protests, the U.S. Army's 250th birthday parade, and — from across the pond — the Trooping the Colour (yes, with the British spelling).
No Man’s Sky – Nearly 10 Years Later
I saw that No Man’s Sky has released another update. I’ve been with this game since day one—I preordered it and even got the free bonus ship, which I still have to this day. That’s one ship I’ll never give up because it was a launch bonus. I’ve upgraded its storage and technology over the years, and it’s still with me.
I remember launch day—August 12, 2016—very clearly. My first thought was: “This is interesting... but broken.” It wasn’t like what they showed on stage. The experience was pretty basic, and I felt cheated. But I saw that they acknowledged the game’s shortcomings and promised to make things right.
And they did. They went even further and committed to free DLC. True to the word of Hello Games and Sean Murray, every single update has been free, and they’ve added an incredible amount of value.