A Game of Thrones… Is There a Connection Between Bran Stark and “Uncle John’s Band”? 5 Jun 20167 Jul 2016 In a previous blog post, I investigated the possibility that George R.R. Martin took inspiration for Arya Stark's storyline from the song "Dire Wolf," by the Grateful Dead. I'm far…
Bale… What Would Christian Bale Do in Season Three of True Detective? 27 Aug 201513 Jan 2019 I'm one of the lone defenders of True Detective's second season. So far, I can count on one hand the people I know who actually liked it. While I disagree…
Books… What Would Faulkner Say About True Detective Season Two? 10 Aug 201515 May 2016 In a previous post, I've argued that no one should call a show good or bad until the end is known. Which means, now that the end is known, we…
Bolano… Thirteen Ways to Fill the Flat Circle After Season Two of True Detective 9 Aug 201528 Sep 2016 Well, Season Two is over. Whether you are satisfied with the ending or not, chances are that you are a little bummed that you don't get to watch it next…
Fan Theories… True Detective vs. Friends: Did Ross Geller Lose Custody of Ben? 8 Aug 201531 Aug 2023 Or: What Happened to Ben Geller on Friends? Note: the following was originally written in 2014. A lot has happened since then, but I think it holds up pretty well.…
Ballers… Don’t Call a Show Good, or Bad, Until The End is Known: On Ballers, True Detective, and House of Cards. 9 Jul 2015 In a previous post, I mentioned Herodotus's lesson, to "call no man happy until he is dead." My specific application of his lesson in that case was to say that…
Ballers… What exactly is Ballers supposed to be? 6 Jul 201515 Jan 2017 Herodotus told us to call no man happy until he is dead. The same is true of television: no series, no season, no episode can be called good until it…
A Song of Ice and Fire… Six Months of Search Terms: Wolverine, His Beard, and The Strange Searches That Lead People Here 2 Jul 20152 Jul 2015 A few years ago, I wrote a blog post called The Maramduke Fart Paradox, in which I discussed the strange search engine terms that lead people to this website. Among…
HBO… How Taylor Kitch’s Paul Woodrugh Should Have Been Introduced in True Detective 1 Jul 20151 Jul 2015 So far, so good, for Season Two of True Detective. Except for one aspect of the first episode that didn't work for me. There are four main characters in this…
HBO… Why Silicon Valley’s Approach to the Bechdel Test is Brilliant 22 Jun 201522 Aug 2023 We all know what the Bechdel Test is. Or, if you don't, it's that rule, invented by Alison Bechdel in her comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, about fiction which…