Dime Store Riot

I suppose it’s fitting that Netflix would release a docu-series about Maury Terry’s: the Son of Sam was part of global Satanic cult nonsense. One has only to look at Q-Anon to see the Satanic Panic has never really gone away. And it’s not surprising that it wouldn’t. The Satanic Panic is such a perfect product of American culture and societal disfunction. This ridiculous notion of a vast network of the diabolic committing atrocities was birthed in the disillusioned 70s from the ritualistic crimes sensationalized by the changing face of journalism and super-charged with a big dose of the occult thanks to a popular culture drunk on the success of The Exorcist . But the Panic truly came of age during Reagan’s 80's as societal trust plummeted, greed was labeled as good, and countless opportunists came out of the woodwork to shill made-up memoirs of life in Satanic cults, peddle their services as “occult crime experts”, or send innocent people to jail thanks to “recovered memories.”

Netflix and Apple are both in talks to purchase MGM. Not surprised by this in the least as the studio has released less and less original content since they dodged bankruptcy back in ‘86 by selling most of their back catalogue to Turner. Mostly they’ve gotten by on the franchises they own the rights too. Like James Bond. I personally hope Netflix lands it. Not only are movie theaters dead but I'd like to see what they do with Bond as I believe the producers really need to take a minute and consider how they should go forward with the series. The latest Bond film has been a debacle. Over budget. Over schedule — Craig hurt himself again. Shooting most of the time without a script. And now the release date is delayed almost a year because they’ve spent so much on the film, it has to have a theatrical release to break even. Also, the Craig Era is, I think, the worst James Bond era. Not because of Craig--he’s a fine Bond and the most athletic and badass feeling. He looks good in a suit

Cobra Kai is coming to Netflix! The first two seasons will be arriving later this year, then joined shortly by the unaired third season. This sequel to the original Karate Kid movies is one of my favorite streaming shows period. Despite scoring some big view numbers for YouTube, I don't think it ever really found the audience it deserves. Now that YouTube is out of the original scripted content business and this will be on Netflix, hopefully it find even wider acclaim because it's just that good.

Giri/Haji ("duty"/"shame") is simply spectacular. It's wonderfully shot, extremely well acted, amazingly well written, full of representation, and moves between characters and cultures with an ease you seldom see. The pacing is great--things happen and when things don't happen it still manages to be fulfilling! There's great action when there needs to be. And drama--meaningful drama--aplenty. And lots of feels. Easily one of the best things I've seen on Netflix and not just because it's the yakuza series I always wanted but feared they'd screw it up if they tried to do it.