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Musical: Hamilton

Overrated as a hip hop musical, but underrated as a pop representation of the Revolutionary period and Hamilton in general. What better way to get folks interested in the politics and dynamics of the founders? And what a terrific reminder of American exceptionalism. I thought the show captured the characters of the time period quite well and I imagine inspires many people to refresh their knowledge of the Federalist papers, dynamics of Jefferson vs. Hamilton, Washington, and perhaps a few more lesser known characters of the period: Schuyler sisters, Lafayette, etc.

I enjoyed the non-hip hop numbers (which there were many) to the hip hop, which reminded me of listening to Arrested Development in the early 1990s.

Film: Blade Runner 2049

Terrific ideas, but the pacing was too slow. Villeneuve makes too many movies if you ask me. I'd like to see a higher batting average from such a talent -- more like a Tarantino or Michael Mann career. Skip The Arrival and just do Blade Runner. For whatever my opinion is worth.

TV:

The Duece - The most Wire-esque of David Simon's post-Wire career. I enjoyed the show a lot, was taken aback by the finale, which I didn't even realize was a finale until he used the same musical montage ending that he did with each Wire seasons.

American Vandal - mock documentary. Is anything more in deserving of ridicule than Making a Murderer and those type of shows? Deals with the case of a high school idiot expelled for spray painting dicks on a bunch of cars. Rather enjoyable.

Mindhunter - my favorite Fincher work in a long while. Started terrific, got progressively less. Main character serviceable, but perhaps the least interesting in the show. More serial killer interviews -- they were the best part.

Books (reading):

World at Night - let's try again with this one. Starts off well. I'm searching for spy novels to enjoy beyond LeCarre. Alan Furst comes recommended.

The Last Kind Words Saloon - Larry McMurtry is the best. Even - maybe especially - his smaller works.

The Second World Wars - Military history is starting to fascinate me. Still cannot wrap my head around the scale of WW2.

The Complacent Class - impressive indictment of Americans today. We're way too complacent and fearful of risk. I think he's right, but it's an incredibly difficult cycle to break. Or maybe not so. We just do it.