The Results
Kirkman is forced to consider canceling the Congressional elections following a bioterrorism threat in Kansas City. Leo confronts his parents about the scandal revolving around his parentage. Wells’ investigation into Majid Nassar’s death takes a devastating turn.
A nefarious group get the FBI Director to effectively resign and it looks like MacLeigh is setting himself up to be President. It all sounds to convoluted to be credible.
The Traitor
Kirkman attempts to negotiate a three-way spy trade with Saudi Arabia and Russia; Alex finds herself face-to-face with the man who claims to be Leo’s biological father; Wells pursues a lead from the Majid Nassar interrogation only to uncover a shocking secret.
Now the story really dives deep into the conspiracy well. Just how deep and silly things get we will see….
The Outpost
by Mike Resnick (2002)
On the planet Henry II, orbiting the twin suns of Plantagenet and Tudor, at the very edge of the great black hole at the center of the Milky Way, there is a tavern called The Outpost. Through the doors of The Outpost have come the greatest heroes, villains, and adventurers of the galaxy – to drink, to brag, and to swap tales.
This is a series of short stories told in three sections. In the first, the characters gather at a tavern and tell stories of their heroics with the barman as narrator. In the second section, the stories are of a war. Then in the third they return and tell the war stories.
As this is a series of stories, there is little character development and plot. However Mike Resnick’s witty dialogue keeps things interesting and holds the stories together. An unusual structure and probably only for Mike Resnick fans.
The Interrogation
Kirkman’s plans to elect a Congress is put in jeopardy after a shooting disrupts a critical Governors’ Summit; Wells and Atwood interrogate Majid Nassar about his purported role in the Capitol bombing; Aaron and Emily offer MacLeish the position of Vice President.
This is all about a power play between the President and the Congress. Sound familiar ? The congress’ planned immigration block just makes no sense, but it appears that Kirkman has agreed.
The Mission
Finally, a group from “Tough Guys Casting” inc gets to play war games in the middle east. The production doesn’t skimp and provides a decent action sequence, marred by a silly standoff as the end. Still, they get the job done with only one casualty.
And in Washington a very improbable plot starts of a secret bunker being built for Senators.
The Enemy
Finally, Kirkman gets a nice suit !
Kirkman juggles continuing to deal with the issue of civil rights in Michigan and finding a terrorist believed to be responsible for the bombing.
Wells suspects MacLeish isn’t telling the truth about what happened on the night of the bombing; Alex seeks help from an unlikely ally and Seth takes on an unexpected new job.
The Confession
Kirkman faces crisis after crisis as he juggles dealing with an interview that leaves many questioning the legitimacy of his Presidency and the fallout from a leaked video.
Wells questions Congressman Peter MacLeish, the bombing’s sole survivor, only to realize he isn’t telling her the whole truth; Alex deals with a personal crisis when she discovers a bag of pills in Leo’s bedroom drawer.
The sole focus on a female FBI agent (Wells) seems to indicate that she will be the one to discover the truth, such a cliche – I hope she is wrong !
Meanwhile, Hollywood 20-something actor playing a teenager (17!) is, surprise a TOTAL JERK.
Mortal Engines is a 2018 post-apocalyptic adventure film directed by Christian Rivers and with a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson, based on the novel of the same name by Philip Reeve, and starring Hugo Weaving, Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan, Jihae, Ronan Raftery, Leila George, Patrick Malahide, and Stephen Lang. An American-New Zealand co-production, the film is set in a post-apocalyptic world where entire cities have been mounted on wheels and motorised, and prey on one another.
This film took a while to get into, there was a lot of back-story to explain and this continues throughout the story. However once the set-up is sorted out and the characters established, it moves at a good pace and ramps up to an exciting ending.
The visuals are impressive. It has a symphonic score that at times is a but overwhelming.
And despite Peter Jackson’s claim that it’s not steam punk, it certainly looks like it.
So although a good film, it probably won’t rank up there with the other Wingnut films.
The Good Place Season 3 Episode 10 (of 13) – Janet(s)
or
The D’Arcy Carden episode
Arriving in Janet’s void, the humans discover they have all taken on Janet’s appearance, leading to confusion until Janet conjures individualized clothing for them.
Janet and Michael visit accounting, leaving the humans in the void. Head Accountant Neil (Strphen Merchant) informs Janet and Michael that nobody has been admitted to the Good Place in 521 years and even Doug Forcett will be sent to the Bad Place, despite his commitment to living a good life.
Neil refuses to believe the Bad Place has hacked the points system, and Janet urges Michael to fix the problems himself.
Good to see Stephen Merchant again…
The second in the prequels, this puts Jet on a mission to stop a terrorist bombing. There is plenty of action and the plot keeps up the pace and there are plenty of plot twists.
The story ends in England, and reminds me a lot of the Dick Francis thrillers. Good read for a thriller fan.