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Reviews
Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool (2023)
Mike Birbiglia has transcended comedy
I have thoroughly enjoyed Mike Birbiglia's work for years now, but I realized watching "The New One" and then this special "The Old Man and the Pool" that he isn't a comedian. He is an exquisite storyteller and a talented comedian, for sure. But Mike has become a "humorist". His work, either written or performed live, is imbued with pathos, intelligence, poetry, and insight. A mediation on life, health, and death, his new special is genuinely funny and also moving. I identified with so many of his musings that I recognized myself in his presentation.
Mike Birbiglia is a humorist in the same breath as America's other favorite humorists. Mark Twain, Erma Bombeck, and Garrison Keillor. Watching this special was like sitting down and enjoying a good book. You finish it deeply satisfied and better for the experience.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Subspace Rhapsody (2023)
Clearly Divisive, but courageous!
Reading the reviews I see 1/10 reviews which say "Star Trek can't have musicals!!!! It's silly!!" To you I say, remember Tribbles? Remember the gangster episode with Joan Collins? Star Trek: TOS pushed boundaries and I am here for it.
I also see 10/10 reviews that say "It's perfect!" basically written by sci-fi fans who miss Buffy who knocked it out of the park with "Once More with Feeling".
I am in-between despite my high rating. When I first heard of this episode, I thought "Uggh... this is gonna suck so hard." I expected to hate it.
But I didn't hate it. And watching it more than once, I love it. Take yourself out of the Star Trek universe and watch it on its own merit and it's fantastic. Star Trek content which tries to imitate or pay homage to the STTOS or STNG or STDS9 always fail, why? Because those shows built on a beloved IP but went in totally different directions. This universe gives the writers of new material permission to push boundaries. Voyager was one of my shows, but it was different from the previous shows it was only tangentially connected to TOS, STNG and Deep Space Nine.
STSNW is a creative and courageous new work in the same flavor of the IP. For instance, none of the original characters are similar to their original actors. Ethan Peck's Spock is nothing like Leonard Nimoy's but stands on its own. Peck didn't even watch Nimoys performance to prepare.
James Kirk does not even look or sound even slightly like Kirk. But somehow it works. And nobody is more different than Nurse Chappell, who in the 60-70's was a blond, beautiful non-character whose value only derived from being blond and beautiful. This Nurse Chappell is smart, ambitious, and full of personality.
And finally, let's talk Christopher Pike. Wow. Anson Mount deserves the awards. All of them. He isn't the swashbuckling hero of Shatner's Kirk. He isn't the academically gifted, erudite diplomat of Jean-Luc. He isn't the brilliant scientist of Catherine Janeway. Don't get me wrong, I liked all of those characters a lot (A LOT). But this Pike is totally new. He is an original.
This Capt. Pike is a politician. He got where he is by being personable and saavy. He understands how the really world works, therefore he understands how to get things done. He supports his people and let's them do their jobs, but pays attention. He is assertive and decisive, but isn't an autocrat or a micromanager. He is a powerfully masculine leader, but not a misogynist or predator. He is open to discussion and listening to his people, but at the end of the day he is resolute. He is the perfect 2023 ideal portrayal of a man-in-charge.
If Pike had only strength, I would say it is that he sees the big picture better than his crew and the other captains. And he has great hair. Like, how does his do that??
This episode was courageous and fits this new iteration.
Life & Beth (2022)
Very Insightful
I know people think it is cool to hate on Amy Schumer, but I don't get it. All of her work is genuine and grounded, but finds humor in the mundane. "Life & Beth" is a touching and intimate story about a woman discovering her own authenticity and purpose through the flashbacks of childhood trauma. The many cameos of famous actors and comedians adds to the environment.
If you are expecting a laugh-a-riot you will be disappointed. Instead it is a realistic and humorous story of good people doing the best they can navigating a hard world. It is warm and wholehearted. It is nice. And sometimes funny. And always real.