Short Attention Span Review: "V" Pilot Episode

If Morena Baccarin showed up on a big screen TV above my city, I think I'd happily surrender.

That said: While the new show improves on the campy original, the pilot episode is far too rushed. It introduces a lot of characters, a couple of not-unexpected plot twists, and at least one that surprised me. Good to see Alan Tudyk back at work. ABC is clearly becoming the network sanctuary for old Firefly cast members. When will Jewel Staite and Ron Glass get their own shows?

Return of the OtherVoice Podcast

The OtherVoice podcast, official web podcast of the games at jointhesaga.com, is back in action at jointhesaga.podbean.com.

I'd done eight of these nearly two years ago, but got away from it due to scheduling issues. Now they're back. Hoping to do at least one a week. Got ideas for topics? Feel free to suggest them!

Short Attention Span Review: "Heroes" 10/26

One more chance. Karen jokes that I say this every week, but this time I'm SERIOUS!

The past couple of episodes have just been dull on top of boring for Heroes. Peter and HRG visit a kid whose power is basically stolen from Pushing Daisies long enough for Peter to steal the power and for the kid to be exposed as a freakish parent-killer. Then Peter leaves to help Hiro, who has gone off in time to save Charlie back in the first season, while HRG sticks around to play Big Brother to the new kid. He calls in Tracy for backup.

Naturally, all goes well, except for the part where the kid gets dragged to death through town by the cops.

Back at Camp Parkman, BrainSylar and Matt are vying for control of Parkman's body - and I think Janice would probably vote in favor of BrainSylar. Matt, let's face it, you apparently don't bring the A game.

At Sunnyvale University...er, wait, wrong school...Claire and her gal-pal make meta jokes about slash fiction sites on the web and endure a hazing ritual in a slaughterhouse that ends with impaling and one too many "OH MY GOD."

If this show goes on for another season, it really needs to undergo a massive purge. It's suffering from character bloat and crisis-itis. The bloat in this show is so bad that some characters have gone double to show up in almost every scene, like Sylar. I fully expect the third Tracy to show up any time. Maybe an evil twin for Hiro?

Short Attention Span Review: "Inglorious Basterds"

Finally got to see this before it escaped theaters. I'm glad I did - it seems most worthwhile to see this movie on the big screen (especially the explosive finale).

That said: I didn't *love* this movie. My problem with it comes down to the simple fact that two storylines are leading to the same conclusion and diminishing each other as a result. Shoshanna's vengeful plan to blow up Hitler's top men in the cinema runs parallel to the Basterds' plan to blow up Hitler's top men in the cinema. A friend correctly noted that this is basically two movies competing with each other inside of one. Neither comes out the winner.

Some elements of the movie were winners for me, though. Christopher Waltz was a great surprise as Hans Landa. I most enjoyed the scenes where people just talked and tension built, and he was in most of those.

Short Attention Span Review: "Heroes" 10/12

Slipping, slipping, slipping...into disinterest.

Ernie Hudson's inexplicable surliness toward amnesia-Sylar, the shrink woman's utter willingness to go along with the sad-eyed serial-killing superhero, and all the bleh dialogue that went with it bored me to the point that I was spending far more time paying attention to continuity problems (behold Sylar's ever-shifting beard growth and hair placement!) than I was to what they were saying.

Claire Bennett and Stalker Girl, plus Invisible Carny Girl who frames Stalker Girl? BORING. Bring on the snipers and special effects!

Peter and the deaf girl: More interesting without Peter. At first, I thought having the power to be a human game of Simon was the lamest superpower ever. But then I saw she could peel paint and remove wallpaper. She's hired.

Short Attention Span Review: "House" 10/12

This episode was certainly an improvement over last week's, although I don't exactly get why billionaire dad had to bankrupt himself (and his son) in order to save the kid.

Enjoyed seeing House back to his old tricks of manipulating his minions, while also demonstrating why he doesn't normally interact with patients. (But interacting with them anyway!)

I really couldn't care less about Thirteen's whole "will she or won't she?" plot. If she could go to Mars and stay there, that'd be awesome. Her relationship with Foreman doesn't do this show any favors. Ever.

Lessons I've Learned No. 4: One's a Lot of Fun

As much as I've enjoyed the "group" epic adventures on OtherSpace throughout the years, the artifact tournament events remind me how much more I prefer running activities for an individual player.

Team events are still great for allowing people to work together, but often it's a challenge - usually not terribly successful - to make sure that everyone involved in the group event gets their moment to shine and has a good time.

In a solo event? Well, that's different. It all comes down to the interaction between the player, the ref, the +sheet, and the story that's being told. Through these solo events, I learn more about the characters, their capabilities, their strengths, and their weaknesses. I also experience first-hand whether a player is a good sport or not.

It can be argued that I get more bang for my buck if I throw a lot of effort into an epic event that a dozen players can experience. But, I don't know. The buzz I'm hearing about the artifact tournament, which can be viewed live in the Last Orders Tavern when bouts are in progress, is that more people wish they'd signed up because of the cool stuff they've seen their fellow players doing on a solo basis.

So, expect me to look for more excuses, whenever possible, to run activities that just involve one player at a time.