Status Updates: August 2024
Status Updates is one of my favorite things I used to do regularly around here, and so I figured as I start posting again, I’d return to it. This is a monthly compendium of the things I am reading, watching, listening to, cooking, or otherwise taking in. Share your own experiences or takes on these items in the comments below!
We are blessedly close, here in the southern United States, to the beginning of autumn. I love fall and winter, my favorite times of year, and every summer around the end of July, I start really yearning for fall leaves and cool breezes, and above all else, sweaters. I love a good sweater.
Also, pumpkin every thing. How many pumpkin spice-flavored drinks have I indulged in already since Starbucks rolled them last week, you may ask? Well, I’m just going to keep that number to myself, but know that it is an entirely appropriate amount. Now if we can just get some cooler temps to go with it.
Anyways, on to the things I’ve been up to (outside of pining for autumn.)
Books I’m Reading
Older subscribers will remember I usually have 2-3 books going at any one time: generally, one fiction, one theology, and sometimes, one other non-fiction. I have had three going this summer, although I just recently cut back to two.
First, in fiction, I have been slowly working my way through Brandon Sanderson’s series, The Stormlight Archive, and I am currently about 3/4 of the way through the 4th book, Rhythm of War. I really, really have enjoyed this series, and I’m looking forward to the 5th and final book, coming out in December.
In non-fiction, I finally got around to reading Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin’s American Promethus, on which the movie “Oppenheimer” was based. The read was just as engrossing as the movie, and did a really good job of bringing out the particularly unique personality of the man, both good and bad. There was a little added thrill of reading it while on vacation in the Mountain West this summer, part of which was spent in Oppenheimer’s beloved New Mexico.
Finally, after a short break from theological reading, I’ve recently started Joerg Rieger’s Remember the Poor. I haven’t read enough to say much about it other than its fairly dense reading.
Shows I’m Watching
I have a piece the works on my love for television, as well as several stand alone pieces on some of these shows, so I won’t go real deep here into any of these. I will say, this summer I’ve been able to dive into a variety of shows that have been on my list, as well as staying current on the Hot Content Summer in the MCU/Star Wars/GoT orbit. It’s been a lot of television, but I think that’s a reflection that, despite much of the handwringing from critics and industry-types, television is in a really, really good place right now. There is so much out there, so many creators being given the opportunity to make so many shows, and from that variety, there are a few things shining through that are really good.
So what have I been watching this summer? Well, first, let’s talk about those IP offerings I mentioned above. House of the Dragon season 2 wrapped up just a few weeks ago, and it was a really good season of television. It’s just always nice to be back in Westeros, and the turn the show took towards a slower unveiling of story was well done (even if the season ended leaving us wanting more.) I’m glad HBO is still committed to this franchise, and I’m looking forward to season 3, and to the upcoming Knight of the Seven Kingdoms series.
On the topic of commitment to IP, Disney is the mirror opposite of HBO, with the recent news that The Acolyte was not renewed for a second season. It’s very disappointing. I watched season one, and mostly enjoyed it. It certainly didn’t all work for me; it really felt at times that showrunner Leslye Headlund had a story she wanted to tell about twins, that Disney then layered on top of that some material that tied it into the broader universe of Star Wars storytelling they want to do, and then, when Manny Jacinto screen tested so well, they bulked his spot out, possible to the detriment of some other storytelling. That all sounds messy, I know, but it reflects what I perceived as a messy, too-many-cooks in the kitchen kind of thing. I think Disney needs to take a lesson from Andor, and just let their showrunners tell the story they want to tell. Merchandising will flow from that. I had high hopes that Headlund and her team would learn from season one what did and did not work, and that would be reflected in season two. Now, we’ll never know. It’s disappointing.1
There has (blessedly) been no MCU television this year, as Feige and crew seem to haev learned the lesson of the last couple of years. I did see Deadpool and Wolverine, which I really enjoyed, and I’ve been working my way slowly through a rewatch of the MCU properties.
Finally, Rings of Power season two kicked off last week, and I’m going to save my observations on that for a future post, but I will say this about it: I’m all in.
Ok, beyond IP content, I have really been trying to commit to catching up on prestige stuff I was behind on. Again, I’m going to write in coming weeks about my feelings on television, and prestige television in particular, recently I’ve been through the following:
Shogun, which I think might now be in my top five favorite shows of all time. Just a magnificent piece of storytelling. Go watch it now if you haven’t.
I finally watched the first three seasons of Slow Horses, prep for season four coming out next week, and I really wish I hadn’t waited so long. This is seriously one of the best shows on tv right now, and Gary Oldman is so funny as Jackson Lamb.
I’m currently about halfway through HBO’s Industry, which I really like. It gives a lot of Succession vibes (another favorite show of mine), and I’m looking forward to being caught up and watching season three in real time in coming weeks.
I’m slowly but surely catching up on The Bear, which my wife and I love. We’re midway through season two, so no spoilers please!
A couple of honorable mentions: 3 Body Problem was interesting, and I’m curious to see where Netflix goes with it, and The Sympathizer was visually and creatively stunning, but the story wasn’t always hitting for me. I’d recommend giving it a try, though, for Robert Downey Jr. as three different characters (sometimes in the same scene!) if nothing else.
Things I’m Reading Online
First and foremost, two friends of mine have started their own Substack, titled Epistles from Babylon, which takes the form of letters between Greg Coates and Justin Bronson Barringer, two pastors and prophetic voices in today’s church. If you like what I write here on faith and politics, then this will be right up your alley. Here is their description of the project:
What does it mean to attempt to follow Jesus in 21st century America? Is that even a question worth asking? How can friendship and nonviolence address the problems our society currently confronts? Why has sharing a table with the homeless and refugees been such a moment of conversion for us both? And where is God in the midst of severe mental illness?
These are just a few of the questions that have brought Justin and Greg together into frequent conversation and sacred dialog. We’d like to bring you in on the discussion, especially if you are concerned about how to live faithfully in a faithless city like Babylon just as we are.
I can’t recommend them enough. Subscribe to them.
Matt Yglesias has a good piece up this week, about the “crank realignment” in our political parties, and how we now have “one crazy party and one party of credulous conformists.”
That’s all for now! What are you reading, watching, or taking in?
I’ll be writing more about this soon, specifically my frustration with the sense that Disney doesn’t really seem to know what they want from Star Wars anymore.