Monday, August 25, 2025

TV and Old Italian Black & White Films

I am currently reading The Bee Sting by Paul Murray and recently one of the line I read was, anger was her dominant mode - it was said by a father describing his daughter who was going off to college. It got me thinking what my dominant mode is. I straight away wanted to say sadness but then the other day I told someone that I was angrier and angrier and so perhaps I could say anger too. I also said I was sadder and sadder - I'm just pretty much more depressed. There's just asshole being assholey you know and I do wish I could form fireballs that I could throw at people. There's also another change happening beyond my control that got me more depressed. I'm not sure how I will fare. People would say you'll be fine because as one person once told me, I could endure. I don't want to endure anything anymore though *sigh* I really have nothing positive to say, so let me just go random mode instead and write what I have been watching.

I went from watching The Pitt to the latest season of Squid Game to the latest season of The Bear - gosh even the things I watch are heavy. I love The Pitt - it was really jarring to see a very serious and tormented Noah Wyle especially because the local TV has been showing The Librarians and he was so goofy in it. There was really a disconnect in my brain that this was the same person. Noah Wyle is really good in The Pitt. On to the final season of Squid Game; it was still tragic (there's a few characters I really like) and the more I think about it, it has a pointless way about it. I mean the protagonist thought he could take down a well-established game with what - sheer belief? It shouldn't be surprising he failed. This is not a Hollywood production afterall; also see the many humans who have lost their lives trying to topple a corrupt and mean establishment in the course of human history and such establishments still chug along. If you really think about it, what would you do? Just walk away and accept you cannot change things? Try to save who you can save? Willingly put your life on the line, but what if it causes other people who did not sign up for this crusade to die too? I may think too much. Do I want to watch the Western version of Squid Game? I don't think it'll be as good but I may end up watching it anyway if it happens. Then The Bear - I still love love The Bear so very very much. Season 4 final episode was draining on the spirit, but everyone in that episode (which was like one long scene) was so very very good. After that I went to watch The Gilded Age. Finally something light. I wasn't totally charmed by its first season, but now 3 seasons in, I guess okay let me sit down and see what's happening with these folks. I do have to say, I love to see the interesting patterns on the ladies' dresses.

Today was the last episode of Wheel of Fortune with Mr. Pat Sajak. We're one season behind here. When one person found out that I actually watch this - well I feel old. It's just become my companion during dinner you know. That constant unchanging presence during weekdays is comforting. I remember one time watching it in my hall, again during dinner, that's like my first year in Singapore so that's 25 years ago and I couldn't solve any of the puzzle so to see how I have grown now to actually able to solve some puzzles - well it's like I know more stuff now. I know he's leaving, but still as we're going towards the last episode, I do feel sad. It's another change and I don't do well with changes. So tomorrow there'll be Ryan Seacrest, I don't know if I'll like it as much, but I guess over time it'll grow on me.

As for films, been watching a few, still trying to watch French and Italian movies too. Last weekend I watched an old black and white Italian film, La Strada. Its tragic ending reminded me of another old black and white Italian film I watched, Il Sorpasso, whose ending was super tragic as well. There's a bit of comfort I have to say watching these black and white films, but my oh my the turn it takes sometime towards tragedy was like ... that escalated fast :| Anyways, the main actress in La Strada was really good, she was so innocent looking and I think that's kinda the hardest role to play, to project innocence in your face. That's also why I thought Colin Farrell in The Banshees of Inisherin was amazing. Anyway, okay that's about it peeps. Really, I wish your days are glorious.

:) eKa @ 9:03:00 PM •